Nerd News : The Latest

Ubuntu Unleashes Desktop App For Android

2012-02-21T16:08:00.000-05:00

By Rob Boggan

Ubuntu has announced a full desktop client to be accessible through Android devices. The premise is simple, instead of carrying around two devices, you can have the Ubuntu desktop client loaded up onto your Android device, and from there dock it into a PC or HDMI ready television set, and voila! full fledged software suite piggy backed from your smartphone. The best part about all of this is, there is a very minimalist hardware requirement set in order for you to pull this off. Literally all you need is an Android phone running at least 2.3, a dual core 1GHz processor, 2GB of Storage for the OS, and a device with AT LEAST 512 MB of RAM. Yeah. That simple.

Once you get connected you can enjoy things like the Chromium web browser, Unified contacts so that you don't miss a beat from your Android contacts, and a desktop messages app that allows you to text and send/receive calls while still docked. Essentially with the Ubuntu for Android App you wouldn't need to purchase a tablet, or even a Laptop dock, just a powerful enough Android device and a monitor or HD ready TV set and you're golden.

Check out the Ubuntu web site for full program details, and let us know in the comments if this is your cup of tea.

Samsung Announces New GALAXY Ace 2 And GALAXY Mini 2

2012-02-21T14:50:00.000-05:00

By Rob Boggan

Today Samsung took the wraps off two of the newest additions to the Galaxy family with the Galaxy Ace 2 and Galaxy Mini 2. Both phones are geared towards those who live the on the go lifestyle, and want a powerful smartphone that won't break the bank. The Galaxy Ace delivers 4G-esque speeds with a modem capable of 14.4 HSPA download speeds, along with 4GB of internal storage (expandable to 32GB with micro-SD), a dual-core 800 MHz processor, and a 3.8'' WVGA display. The Galaxy Mini 2 packs roughly the same features with the exception of a single core processor, and a 3.27'' HVGA screen. The Galaxy Ace 2 is set to launch in the UK in April, while the Galaxy Mini will hit France in March.

Check out a few press images of the devices below:

Samsung Galaxy Mini 2

Samsung Galaxy Ace 2

Samsung Galaxy Note Review

2012-02-21T12:00:00.000-05:00

By Rob Boggan

Every time I hear the phrase "It's a phone and a tablet" I shudder from nightmares of Dell Streak's past. The Dell Streak completely and totally turned me off from the Smartphone/Tablet crossover market. It was a sweet idea and I thought it would work wonderfully, but one of the biggest downsides was the Streak, as awesome as it was as a mini tablet, was a crappy phone. Underneath it all was a beautiful premise that never really lived up to the hype. Samsung has taken that premise and built out a device with their now infamous "Galaxy" stamp on it, and released it to the masses under AT&T's 4G LTE data network. Does having the Galaxy branding and an LTE radio make this Phone/Tablet a must have? Or is it simply another pipe dream that will ultimately get lost in the shuffle? Read on for my review of the Samsung Galaxy Note.

First thing first, the Galaxy Note is actually BIGGER than the Dell Streak. With a massive 5.3 inch display, the Note definitely boasts more than enough screen real estate for the casual user. The massive screen is accented even more by the extremely high resolution Super AMOLED display that Samsung stuffed into this bad devil. Nay, this is not just your average Super AMOLED display however, it's actually a Super AMOLED HD display which means colors are gonna pop, and overall will be much more robust and vivid than any other screen you've ever used. Ever. Seriously, the display on this thing really surprised me as I was not expecting it to be as nice. The design of the phone itself falls right in line with most other Samsung phones as of late, meaninig it does leave a bit to be desired. The casing itself is made almost entirely of plastic which kind of cheapens the feel of the phone quite a bit, and the only thing that leads to the phone feeling as solid as it does is the massive Corning Gorilla Glass display that was crammed onto the Note. The battery cover is super thin and literally feels like you're going to snap it in half while trying to remove it. With the back off, you'll notice the circuitry for an NFC chip, and the massive 2,500 mAh battery. The battery happens to be the anchor of this phone and just so happens to be what really makes it stand out. One of the biggest complaints I have with a lot of smartphones, is that the battery just doesn't cut it. I was afraid that not only would this be the case with my Galaxy Note, but it would be worse than anything I could imagine due to the functionality of the phone and the largeness of the screen. I was LARGELY wrong, as the battery on the Galaxy Note has taken me from one day to the next, all week long. Literally taking my Note off the charger at around 8 AM and not having to charge it until 3 PM the next day is not only great, but it's a blessing. Finally the smartphone Gods have given us something we has all lusted after for a while: Great battery life. One bit of information I was a little disheartened to hear was that the AT&T version of the Galaxy Note was dropping the fantastically performing Samsung Exynos processor in favor of the more LTE friendly Snapdragon. Not to say that the dual core Snapdragon system is trash, because it's not, it just simply under performs when compared to the benchmarks of the Exynos processor. With mostly anything that I tasked the Galaxy Note with, it took in stride and pounded out productivity. Emailing, Facebooking, Tweeting, texting, and phone calls were all superb in quality, with absolutely ZERO lag. Speaking of phone calls, call quality was great on the Note and the speaker was solid as well. I did walk away underwhelmed with the audio quality of the speaker phone when it came to playing back movies or music, as it sounded amazingly quiet by comparison to my Galaxy S II, or the iPhone 4S.

Running on Android 2.3.6, the Galaxy Note packs the latest version of Android, at least until it gets updated to Ice Cream Sandwich later on this year. In addition to Gingerbread, the Galaxy Note also runs Samsung's TouchWiz interface, with a bit of a twist. To go along with the included S Pen peripheral, Samsung has updated TouchWiz to support gestures using the S Pen. For example, users can long press on the screen to instantly perform a screen capture that is uploaded into the S Memo(See a theme there?) app where you can then draw, crop, or write on the screen capture before sharing it via messaging or social networking. Need to quickly open the S Memo app without doing a screen capture? Simply double tap on the screen and the S Memo app pops into view over any app you're currently using for quick note-taking access. In addition to the S Memo app, the S Pen can be used in virtually any app that uses a keyboard, and for basic navigation which essentially allows for a completely hands-free (or finger-free) experience. I've seen and heard a lot of people complain about not being able to use this phone one handed, and that's something I won't waste my breath trying to dispute. The Note is huge and it totally would be nearly impossible to use one handed, unless you can palm a regulation sized basketball. The beauty behind that however, is the fact that the Galaxy Note isn't designed for one handed use. It's designed to literally be a go-between for those who want a smartphone with tablet functionality, minus the extra commitment that a tablet would carry. Rounding out the feature set is the rear 8MP camera, and the front facing 2MP camera for video calls and self portraits. Both cameras performed exceptionally well, and the 1080P video capability worked like a dream.

All in all, I can honestly say the Samsung Galaxy Note is kind of like my dream phone. The only thing that holds it back from being absolute perfection, is the fact that the size of the handset actually does take away from the complete usability of it. Outside of that, it has a great screen, Great battery life, Great cameras, and all around great features. The S Pen may be the one thing on this phone that could get over looked as I didn't find myself using it as much as I probably could have. At $299.99 the Galaxy Note is a bit steep with the pricing, but given everything that's packed into it, I would feel more comfortable dropping that much on a Galaxy Note versus a Droid RAZR, or Samsung SkyRocket. Available right now from AT&T, the Galaxy Note is waiting for you and your hard earned cash. For those who like options, it does happen to be available in two color styles, Ceramic White or Carbon Blue.

Anybody out there planning on picking one up? Any hesitation? Let us know in the comments below!

Motorola Droid 4 Coming To Verizon Feb. 10th

2012-02-07T12:11:00.000-05:00

By Rob Boggan

After weeks of speculation, we finally have an official release date for the Motorola Droid 4 from Verizon Wireless. Rocking a ridiculously half an inch thin frame, the Droid 4 packs a ton of features and major improvements over its predecessors including compatibility with Verizon's 4G LTE data network(Finally), along with Government-grade encryption (FIPS 140-2) for email, calendar, and contacts. Outside of that, expect a fairly standard feature set like a slide out QWERTY keyboard, dual core processor, and 8MP camera with 1080P HD video record. Available starting Feb.10th online and in store for a decent price point of $199.99 with new 2 year agreement. Check out the full press release below and a video intro to the Droid 4!

DROID 4 by Motorola Ready to Work and Play on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Network

Power, speed and reliability get the job done

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. - Feb. 7, 2012 -- The award winning DROID 4 by Motorola will be available to handle even the most demanding lifestyles starting Feb. 10 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at http://www.verizonwireless.com/. Introduced at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the DROID 4 is the thinnest and most powerful 4G QWERTY smartphone measuring at less than half an inch thin. DROID 4 not only features a dual-core 1.2 GHz processor, but also a five-row QWERTY keyboard with a PC-like layout and edge-lit keys for fast, precise typing, even in the dark. Powered by America's fastest, most reliable 4G network, DROID 4 customers will have access to 4G LTE coverage in 195 markets covering more than 200 million people.
Additional features
Verizon Wireless 4G LTE – Customers can expect fast download speeds of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G LTE Mobile Broadband coverage areas
Android™ 2.3.5 Gingerbread, to be upgraded to Android™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
4.0-inch qHD display with scratch and scrape resistant glass
Government-grade encryption (FIPS 140-2) for email, calendar and contacts; preloaded with Citrix® Receiver™ for Android (available in webtop) for desktop virtualization and access
8-megapixel camera with 1080p HD video capture
Front-facing camera for video chat
4G LTE Mobile Hotspot supporting up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices
Business Ready
DROID 4 is designed to help customers get more done. Business professionals can impress their audience by presenting to a conference room full of potential customers in a snap by plugging the DROID 4 into an HDTV and presenting directly from the phone. Professionals can also combine the DROID 4 with the Lapdock 500 and its 14-inch display to create a full-featured mobile office. They can download documents, make edits using Lapdock's full keyboard and email the updated documents to colleagues or customers. The Lapdock even features a built-in webcam so customers can attend virtual meetings and manage their business face-to-face. The Smart Actions app on the DROID 4 helps automate everyday tasks and optimizes battery efficiency by letting customers create rules, such as automatically setting the phone to vibrate during work hours or dimming the display at a specific battery level. Business professionals can leave their laptops behind and use the MotoCast™ app to remotely stream documents, videos, music and pictures from their work or home computers to their handset. The remote access of MotoCast eliminates the need to store documents on the handset as everything is stored on their office laptop.
Pricing and availability
DROID 4 by Motorola will be available on Feb. 10 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at http://www.verizonwireless.com/ for $199.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.
The Lapdock 500 is available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online for $299.97.
Customers that purchase a DROID 4 will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan beginning at $39.99 monthly access and a smartphone data package starting at $30 monthly access for 2 GB of data.

Pentax K-01 Brings New School Flavor With Old School Looks

2012-02-02T15:36:00.000-05:00

By Rob Boggan

Australian Industrial designer Marc Newson introduced his take on the Pantax mirror less lens camera, the Pantax K-01 today. In a design that is more old school shooter than the previous model, the Pantax Q, the K-01 brings together top notch features, with a high end design sure to catch the eyes of photography aficionados all over the globe. Rocking a 16MP APS-C Sensor which is essentially a solid size lens for mammoth quality photos. In addition to an enhanced shooter, this bad boy also rocks full 1080p HD video recording at a blazing 24 frames per second (FPS), RAW shooting capability, and a 3 inch LCD screen.

Available starting in March, you'll be able to snag one of the K-01 for $900 for the entire kit, or $750 for the body. Any budding or veteran photographers excited about this refresh?

{via HypeBeast}

Sprint Announces Budget Friendly ZTE Optik

2012-02-02T12:45:00.002-05:00

By Rob Boggan

There has been a recent trend in the wireless industry for carriers and manufacturers to get budget friendly smartphones onto the market and into the hands of the public. Certain phones such as the Pantech Burst, the Pantech Breakout, and the Samsung Conquer have all cracked the market and done fairly well amongst consumers. Now it appears that Sprint and ZTE are looking to be the first to market with an extremely budget friendly tablet with their ZTE Optik.

Rocking a 7-inch WVGA (1280x800) display, Android 3.2, and a dual core 1.2 GHz Snap Dragon processor, the specs actually aren't low end at all. In addition to those specs the Optik will also sport a 5MP rear facing camera, 2MP Front facing camera, 1GB of RAM, and 16GB of on board storage. Prospective customers will be able to take advantage of this sweet deal for a ridiculously subsidized price of $99.99 with new 2 year agreement, or the also low price of $349.99 without contract. The Optik will hit Sprint shelves this Sunday, Feb.5th. Check out the press release for full product specs...

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. & RICHARDSON, Texas (BUSINESS WIRE), February 02, 2012 - Beginning on Sunday, Feb. 5, Sprint (NYSE:S) will introduce its first tablet for under $100, ZTE Optik™, a Sprint 3G tablet featuring a 7-inch touchscreen display with WXGA 1280x800 resolution and pinch-to-zoom, Android™ 3.2, Honeycomb, and dual cameras.
ZTE Optik will be available through Sprint direct ship sales channels, including Sprint Stores, Sprint Business Sales, Telesales (1-800-SPRINT1) and online (http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sprint.com&esheet=50155417&lan=en-US&anchor=www.sprint.com&index=1&md5=ef340b058060dd688bf666caef0d29d8) for just $99.99 with a new line or eligible upgrade and two-year service agreement. It will also be available without a service agreement for $349.99, and business customers may qualify for special pricing. (All pricing excludes tax.)
“Sprint is committed to delivering exceptional value and feature-rich devices to our customers,” said David Owens, vice president – Product Development, Sprint. “ZTE Optik packs great features for under $100. When this device is combined with our Tablet Connection plans, customers can easily keep their personal and professional lives organized, stay connected with their social networks and get things done while on the go.”
Powered by Android 3.2, Honeycomb, the version of Android designed specifically for tablets, ZTE Optik is a dynamic e-reader, media player and portable computing device. It features a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm^® Snapdragon^® processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage and 7-inch capacitive touchscreen that allows the user to get work done or stay entertained surfing the web, playing games and watching videos with Adobe^® Flash^® enabled websites. It has two cameras – a rear-facing 5-megapixel camera and front-facing 2-megapixel camera that enables video chat.
“ZTE Optik is ZTE’s first tablet in North America and makes the tablet experience available to a new segment of consumers,” said Lixin Cheng, CEO, ZTE USA and president, North America Region, ZTE. “Paired with Sprint’s cutting-edge network, ZTE Optik provides an exceptional user experience to consumers who demand affordability, flexibility and mobility in one package.”
For those that want to get more out of their tablet, ZTE Optik provides access to Android Market™, which features more than 400,000 useful apps, games and widgets. Additional key features of ZTE Optik include:

Google mobile services such as Google Search™, Gmail™, Google Maps™ with Navigation, Google Books™ and YouTube™
Sprint Zone, Sprint TV, Sprint Music Plus, Sprint Navigation, Sprint Football Live and NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile^SM
Wi-Fi^® (802.11 b/g)
Swype™
Integrated GPS
4000 mAh Lithium-ion battery
Expandable memory slot, supporting up to a 32GB microSD card (not included)
Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR
Stereo speakers
3.5mm headset

ZTE Optik can be activated on one of Sprint’s Tablet Connection plans. Sprint offers four plans designed specifically for tablets, starting at $19.99 for 1GB of data, $34.99 for 3GB of data, $49.99 for 6GB of data and $79.99 for 12GB of data.¹ (All pricing excludes taxes and surcharges.) Customers are able to view their data usage by logging into My Sprint at http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sprint.com%2F&esheet=50155417&lan=en-US&anchor=www.sprint.com&index=2&md5=e02fcc4c9f434b6fc1963d90e2e6604d.
ZTE Optik can also be used as a Mobile Hotspot allowing up to five users to simultaneously surf the web using Wi-Fi^®. The Mobile Hotspot option is available for an additional $29.99 per month and utilizes data in the customer’s tablet plan. (All pricing excludes taxes and surcharges).

HTC Ville Unveiled In Video Leak

2012-01-31T11:58:00.000-05:00

By Rob Boggan

If there's one company that has the spotlight on them ahead of the upcoming MWC, it's definitely HTC. After the acquisition of the Beats brand, and the promise of quad-core processor phones, all eyes are on HTC and their upcoming super phones. One of those such phones the HTC Ville has recently gotten the leak treatment, as a French blog has apparently caught the upcoming smart phone on video. Sporting a dual core processor, dual cameras, and a 4.3 inch display, this one definitely lines up with what we've been hearing about most of HTC's incoming phones. Also of note is the ridiculously thin frame (supposedly around 8mm) and a full aluminum uni body frame. The video is embedded below the break. Check it out and let us know what you think...

{via SlashGear}

Samsung To Unveil Galaxy Note With Super Bowl Ad

2012-01-31T10:19:00.000-05:00

By Rob Boggan

Samsung announced today that they will be airing a commercial to officially unveil their latest super phone during the Super Bowl, this Sunday. The 90 second spot is set to highlight the Samsung Galaxy Note, and will be directed by Bobby Farrelly and will use actual HD footage shot from the Galaxy Note within the ad. This will mark perfect timing for Samsung as the Galaxy Note also becomes available for pre-order through AT&T that very same day.

Be sure to check out the 90 second spot during the 4th quarter during the SuperBowl, this Sunday, February 5th.

Samsung Galaxy Note Lands On AT&T Feb. 19th

2012-01-30T11:04:00.001-05:00

By Rob Boggan

Beginning Sunday, February 5th AT&T will begin to take pre-orders for the upcoming release of the Samsung Galaxy Note. Packing a Goliath 5.3 inch Super AMOLED display and compatibility for AT&T's 4G LTE data network. The Galaxy Note also includes the critically acclaimed S Pen with S Memo app, which allows for all digital content created by users to be combined through this single app, converted into a memo and shared however you desire. Pre-orders on the device will start on Sunday Feb. 5th with a tentative "delivery by" date of Feb.17th. Those of you who don't get in on the pre-order will be able to snag one in store beginning February 19th. The Galaxy Note will be available in two flavors, Carbon Blue and Ceramic White, and will launch with a pretty hefty price tag of $299.99. Check out the Press Release below for full product details...

Create, Capture and Share in New Ways with the Samsung Galaxy Note, Available from AT&T Feb. 19

AT&T's Latest 4G LTE Device Offers Customers a New Way to Communicate and Collaborate

Dallas, Texas, January 30, 2012

Key Facts

Previously announced at AT&T’s Developer Summit leading up to the International Consumer Electronics Show earlier this month, the Samsung Galaxy Note™ arrives in carbon blue and ceramic white at AT&T* stores beginning Feb. 19 for $299.99 with a two-year agreement.
Customers excited to get their hands on this dream device even earlier can pre-order at http://www.att.com/galaxynote or any AT&T company-owned retail store beginning Sunday, Feb. 5 for delivery by Feb. 17.
The Galaxy Note combines the best features of a smartphone with the larger viewing screen of a tablet and advanced technology in the S Pen™ -- delivering an all-in-one device that allows users to work more efficiently and maintain productivity, while communicating in a unique, personal way.
Galaxy Note boasts the world’s first 5.3-inch HD Super AMOLED™ screen (1280x800), one of the largest screens on a smartphone, for sharp, clear colors and readability – both indoors and out. With the expansive high-resolution screen that provides an immersive viewing experience, customers can take full advantage of the large display, to create and consume more.
The Galaxy Note includes a highly advanced tool called the S Pen, which delivers fast, responsive and precise control to create fine lines and detail on the device display, much like an ink pen and pad of paper. With the S Pen, users can easily sketch drawings, jot down notes, or write emails and texts quickly and easily in free-form handwriting.
S Memo™, a multimedia application designed to capture all forms of user-created content captured by the S Pen, allows for pictures, voice recordings, typed text, handwritten notes or drawings to be combined via a single application, converted to a ‘memo’, and shared as desired.
It also includes a smart professional planning tool that makes full use of the device’s large screen. The calendar integrates the phone’s to-do list and schedule; control and navigation is intuitive, helping customers comprehensively organize their lives.
An easy screen-capture function also allows users to instantly save any screen, which can also be annotated with the S Pen before being saved or shared.
Users can communicate in personal, creative ways expanding beyond traditional sharing methods with the Galaxy Note.

Accessories
The Galaxy Note features a unique portfolio of custom designed optional accessories including:

Desktop Dock to get the most out of your Galaxy Note at home
Spare Battery Charging System that allows for a convenient backup charging solution
Protective Flip Cover Case, available in multiple colors including tan, black, pink, red, white, blue.
Galaxy Note S Pen Holder Kit which offers a solution for users in need of a more traditional writing instrument. With a spare S Pen included, the S Pen Holder secures the navigation tool inside and offers a comfortable grip and allows for more detailed use.

The Galaxy Note is also compatible with the following universal accessories: Micro USB Adapter, HDTV Smart Adapter, Car Power Charger with Detachable Data Cable (Micro USB), Micro USB Data Cable, Travel Charger (Detachable with USB to Micro USB Cable), and the premium Refined Sound wired headset.
Pre-Orders
Beginning Sunday, Feb. 5 customers will have the option to pre-order the Note at http://www.att.comgalaxynote/ or by visiting an AT&T company-owned retail store. Pre-orders processed by Feb. 15 will arrive by Feb. 17 at customers’ homes.
Quote
“The Galaxy Note brings a new level of efficiency to busy customers who would normally rely on multiple devices,” said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, Devices, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “This new breed of smartphone helps consumers accomplish more with a single device than ever before. The unique all-in-one experience can simplify daily life while tapping into AT&T’s 4G LTE network to let customers work even faster.”

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile broadband and emerging 4G capabilities, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse^® and AT&T |DIRECTV brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising.

First Trailer For Call Of Duty: MW3 DLC

2012-01-24T13:23:00.000-05:00

By Rob Boggan

We've all sat idly by and waited for an announcement about new DLC for Modern Warfare 3. Well, Activision and Infinity Ward posted a new video on their YouTube channel, detailing just that. The video rocks an over the top pitchman really nailing down the benefits for those who dropped the extra coin for Call Of Duty Elite, and making the rest of us feel like "Nancies" for opting not to. In the natural order of things, Xbox Live subscribers will get first dibs on the DLC followed by PS3 and PC owners. Those who aren't subscribed to Call Of Duty: Elite will have to wait even longer to get your grubby little hands on this DLC as Xbox owners are again slated to get first dibs on it once it's available to the masses in March, PS3 and PC owners again shortly afterward.

Check out the trailer below!

Pantech Burst Review

2012-01-21T12:05:00.000-05:00

By Rob Boggan

With the smartphone market growing constantly month over month, it comes as no surprise that just about every phone manufacturer is trying to throw their hat into the ring. Some actually succeed with a warmly received handsets, most crash and burn within the blink of an eye. Pantech has tossed their theoretical hat into the ring with a few successful smartphones so far, and has even jumped into the Android tablet market. With limited experience and even more limited successes within the smartphone space, does Pantech have what it takes to come up with a surefire winner with a budget friendly, LTE capable handset? Or does their latest smartphone fall flat like so many others before it? read on for my review of the Pantech Burst.

This may be one of the more modern designed Pantech handsets we've used in a while. The simplicity of the Pantech Breakout has been replaced by a two tone body design on the Burst.Aesthetically, there is no extreme amount of flash, and on the sides of the phone there is simply the charging port and the volume rocker. The black of the front of the Burst extends beyond the screen and almost to the back plate of the device. On the front there's the Super AMOLED display and front facing camera. The rear of the phone is ovalish like the front, but also has a sloping interior that adds some much needed grip to the device. The downside is, once again you can definitely tell that there was obvious budget cuts made on the exterior to accommodate the beef that was included inside the device. The phone has a really low budget feel to it, meaning in your hands it feels more like a Go-Bot less like a Transformer. There is absolutely no solid feeling to these devices at all, and I was afraid of the outcome should I happen to drop the Burst.

On the inside, is where most of the budget seems to have disappeared to. Rocking a dual core 1.2 GHz processor, 5MP camera with auto focus and HD video recording, this device has the markings of a good mid-range handset. The Processor on the inside is a pretty solid workhorse, but I did notice a bit of lag when it came down to running multiple apps in the background. Battery life was also a bit suspect, as we could get all of about 6 hours of heavy use out of a single charge. One huge benefit to the Pantech Burst is the quality of the screen as Pantech opted to go with a 4 inch Super AMOLED plus display. The screen does a ton of justice as colors pop right out at you, and don't appear too overly washed out or dominant. I did notice some pixelation in the dock icons, and some of the Pantech skinned icons also appeared to be overly pixelated. Outside of those little one-offs, the screen is gorgeous, and playback is almost up to par with some of the higher end smartphones. The camera actually performs pretty decent, but shutter time with the default settings was absolutely abysmal. I clocked the shutter time at almost 3 seconds, which doesn't sound bad but when you're trying to capture that all important life moment 3 seconds is a lot. Picture quality itself wasn't too bad, but in comparison to most other smartphone cameras at the same resolution, photos seemed a bit under par. The video recording worked as expected, but there was choppiness evident even while recording in 720p HD.

Being a budget friendly, LTE capable smartphone is a hard niche to thrive in. Truth of the matter is, most consumers don't mind paying a higher premium for a handset that exudes quality. The Pantech Burst does a decent job of incorporating some high end features, but ultimately will end up getting over looked because of the unfortunate scenario of AT&T customers being able to snag an iPhone 3G S for $.99. For those interested however, the Pantech Burst is a decent offering, and at $50(with new 2 year agreement) is definitely worth checking out.

Never Wet Makes Sure Your Belongings Are..... Never Wet

2012-01-19T10:30:00.000-05:00

By Rob Boggan

When I first watched this video, my eyes literally bugged out of my head in sheer amazement of what I had just witnessed.

Manufactured by Ross Nanotechnologies, Never Wet takes water resistance to an entirely new level, and into the literal waterproof stage. As the above video explains, most materials, devices, clothing etc are all designed to repel water, and other liquids but most fail to do the job. With Never Wet and it's super hydrophobic coating technology, any material with the proper treatment will cause just about any sort of liquid to not just simply bead and reduce the amount of penetration into materials, but it totally prevents it. This brings about the possibility of entirely water proof clothing, electronics, and just about anything imaginable with the proper application. As with any "magical" treatment there's always a caveat, and in this case there's two: Soap and alcohol. These two materials do penetrate the finish that Never Wet provides, but slap some plain old water on there after it contacts either of these two liquids and it miraculously regains it's anti liquid properties.

Imagine for a second, being able to have one of your gadgets share the same water proof qualities as the items used above for testing. That would be amazingly awesome. Would any of you consider buying a device that's Never Wet treated? Better yet, are we ready for the price associated with a device that's Never Wet treated?

Sound off in the comments!

AT&T Reworking Data Plans, Effective This Sunday

2012-01-18T19:32:00.003-05:00

By Rob Boggan

Starting this Sunday, AT&T will roll out it's newer, "more competitive" data plans for all smartphones and tablets. The new plans aren't drastic in change, and in fact are pretty decent considering current options. As of now, smartphone buyers have the choice between 200MB, 2GB, and 4GB with tethering priced at $15, $25, and $45 respectively. The new offerings will grant users 300MB, 3GB, and 5GB with tethering and they will be priced at $20, $30, and $50. Again, this actually ends up being cheaper in the long haul for AT&T users as the current pricing plans call for $15 for an additional 200MB of data, and if you happen to be on the 2 or 4GB plans, then you'd cough up an additional $10 for an extra GB of data. This essentially equals savings, that's right savings of $5 from overages, and more importantly a competitive advantage over Verizon as their current offering only includes 2GB of data for $30. Tablet plans are not necessarily being retooled, but instead one small change in the 3GB data plan which will drop 5 bucks from $35 to $30.

As usual, existing customers on existing data plans have the option of keeping their current offerings or moving to the new packages. Be advised that if you are on a grandfathered data plan and you make the switch, it will be next to impossible to go back to where you were.

Check out the official Press Release and hit up the comment section to let us know how you feel about these new and improved data plans.

AMC Orders Up Another 16 Episodes Of The Walking Dead

2012-01-16T10:00:00.000-05:00

By Rob Boggan

Looks like things are just getting started for officer Rick Grimes and his rag tag gang of zombie busters. AMC has just confirmed that they have opted to buy into another 16 episodes of hit TV show, The Walking Dead. This comes off the heels of a wildly successful season one, and halfway through season two which has garnered critical acclaim for it's gripping story lines. This move shows that AMC is committed to putting the big bucks behind this mega-hit as previous season orders have only been for between 7 (season one) and 13 (season two) episodes. I, for one, am super excited and cannot wait for season two to resume after it's mid-season break.

New episodes begin airing on AMC Sunday, February 12th @ 9/8/central.

Samsung Galaxy Nexus Review

2012-01-10T17:57:00.004-05:00

By Rob Boggan

Make no bones about it, I am an Android guy. I love the ecosystem, I love the customization options, I love having total access to the phone's internal file system. Before I lose my Apple fan boy readers, yes, I agree that the iPhone is a stellar device and obviously has a tighter (possibly better) OS and Eco system, but I prefer Android. So it was with baited breath that I finally went ahead and dove right into the Fed Ex box that was left on my stoop wondering how I would feel about the latest pure Android experience. Historically, these are the phones that set the bar for most upcoming Android devices. These are the phones that raise that bar for most all other smartphones, and it's usually for the best. The Galaxy Nexus is no exception to the rule and provides a really clean, yet still flawed version of Android.

As far as design goes, the Galaxy Nexus has a real premium look and feel to it. I wasn't as disappointed with it aesthetically as I previously was with the Nexus S, and it's polished plastic backing. With the Galaxy Nexus, there's still the plastic backing, but instead of the shiny black material, The new Nexus sports a basket weave like finish that feels good in the palm of your hands. The phone itself is a relatively large phone, but due to the unbelievably thin design it really doesn't feel as big as it truly is. End to end, the screen on the Galaxy Nexus is a piece of beauty, and looking at the design it's hard to see where the actual screen begins and ends when the screen is powered off. The curved glass display feels really good with both typing in landscape mode and while talking on the phone. The contour feels like a natural fit against your face and could possibly be the most comfortable handset I've ever used. What's weird about the design of the Galaxy Nexus is how it tapers from the bottom to the top. The bottom of the phone is noticeably thicker than the top, which I think actually helps add to the grip of the device and adds more of a solid feeling to it.

With this being the first Ice Cream Sandwich powered Android device, I expected it to have a few flaws here and there, but surprisingly, there aren't many. The revamped dialer looks awesome, the camera interface is sweet, and I especially love the integration of Gingerbread and Honeycomb into one universal OS. One thing that users will notice right away is how much more Honeycomb the interface is than Gingerbread. The entire interface is still highlighted with the black and blue laser etched, Tron-like highlights in just about every menu. On the Galaxy Nexus, there are NO physical buttons save for the volume rocker and power key on the left and right sides of the phone. This ends up being a huge benefit as it comfortably allows for more screen real estate without sacrificing functionality. The navigation buttons have been trimmed from four down to three, with the Home, Back, and Open Apps keys making the cut. This is something that made the cut from the Honeycomb OS and actually translates to ICS perfectly allowing for much better multitasking and app switching on the fly. The improved contacts app made me feel like I was using a Windows phone because...well that's exactly what it looks like. The bigger, more prominent photos within the app, along with the recently contacted tab really looks ripped right out of the Windows interface.

The Galaxy Nexus runs smoother than any phone I've personally had the privilege of using, and is right up there with the iPhone 4S IF not better. This is possible thanks in part to a dual core 1.2 GHz processor and better task managing on the part of the Galaxy Nexus. It's now even easier than ever to go in and shut down open apps, which is crucial in both battery life and data consumption. Speaking of which, there's also a new data monitor that allows users to set a data limit within your phone which will alert you once you reach your set threshold to prevent overages.

There's also your standard set of dual cameras, front facing VGA camera and a rear 5MP shooter with zero shutter lag. For the most part, the photos we took with the Galaxy Nexus were very good quality despite it only being a 5MP camera. The zero shutter lag works to perfection and allowed me to catch several bursts of photos at once, which definitely comes in handy especially when your subject is a hyper active three year old. Google talked about it's new panorama mode quite a bit, and I must say I was also impressed with it as well. Using my Galaxy S II to take a panoramic photo yielded sub par results, but when I took the same photo with the Galaxy Nexus, it really fit the scenery into the photo the correct way without making it look warped.

Battery life was a bit suspect under my use. Under heavy usage throughout the day, I found myself reaching for the charger after about 6 hours. Normally that wouldn't be a tremendously terrible number, but considering I'm currently clocking around 10 with my Galaxy S II it's certainly a sharp decline. Call quality was great an there was sufficient coverage just about everywhere I went. The speaker phone was a bit more quiet than what I prefer, but it's been improved over the insanely quiet speaker of the Nexus S.

The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is more than a worthy successor to the Nexus One and Nexus S, it is the BEST Android phone on the market right now. Combining decent battery life, with excellent performance and the ability to more actively and accurately control your device's data consumption are all huge advantages which at the moment are a Galaxy Nexus exclusive. If you are one that has to have the latest and greatest, look no further than the Galaxy Nexus. As previously stated, the Nexus phones usually set the bar for the next breed of Android devices, but why wait for that next breed when you can have it all right now?

AT&T Announces Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD

2012-01-09T17:17:00.000-05:00

By Rob Boggan

Keeping up with the Android craze, AT&T has unveiled it's latest member of the ever growing Galaxy S family, in the SkyRocket HD. Running with the same innards, the Skyrocket HD packs an even bigger Super AMOLED Plus screen onto an already big device upping the size from 4.5 inches to 4.65 inches. This could have been a move made to offset the tremendous drop in screen quality from the original Galaxy S II into the Skyrocket, and to hopefully offset some of that Verizon and Sprint mojo since they will both be offering the Galaxy Nexus.

Thoughts? Let us know in the comments!

Verizon Announces Two New Members Of The DROID Family

2012-01-09T17:04:00.001-05:00

By Rob Boggan

Looking to continue it's rapid roll out of VZW devices, Motorola today announced it's two newest additions to the DROID army. The first being the Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX, which is being described as the Android phone that truly "over-achieves". Rocking a body that's essentially identical to it's little brother the Droid RAZR, the RAZR MAXX cosmetically makes no changes. The real stars are on the inside though, as the RAZR MAXX boasts 32GB of internal memory instead of 16 on the original, and the RAZR MAXX supposedly rocks an astounding 21 hours of talk-time on a single charge. 21 hours sounds amazingly sweet, but we'll just have to wait on this puppy to be released before we can actually confirm those numbers.

The second device announced today is the fourth entry into the ever popular OG DROID family, appropriately named the Droid 4. Maintaining the main draw of the originals (touch screen combined with a full QWERTY keyboard), the DROID 4 would be attractive to not only those already familiar with the devices, but newcomers to the DROID family as well. Rocking a super thin half an inch frame, a dual core 1.2 GHz processor, and Government ready encryption software, the DROID 4 has features for every type of smartphone user. Also included in the design of the phone is a splash resistant nano coating for those of you who are a little more careless with your devices.

Both phones will be available from Verizon Wireless within the "coming weeks" with the RAZR MAXX rocking a $299.99 price tag, while the DROID 4 will fall in line at $199.99. Check out a few more shots of the devices below.

Samsung Galaxy Note Confirmed For AT&T

2012-01-08T15:07:00.001-05:00

By Rob Boggan

In what is sure to be an action packed week of tech announcements, we finally have one of our first CES leaks. The above poster was shot by The Verge and it clearly showcases an AT&T branded Samsung Galaxy Note complete with 4 button navigation layout. There has been no official announcement since CES hasn't really began yet, but expect full deets when it is.

AT&T users, are you ready to get into this mammoth tablet/phone?

{via The Verge}

Apple To Introduce 'Store Within A Store' To Select Target Locations

2012-01-07T14:04:00.001-05:00

By Rob Boggan

Apple has announced plans to expand it's product offering into smaller areas not capable of supporting full fledged Apple stores. The lucky areas to receive these "store within a store" designs happen to be about 25 select Target locations across the country. This move in particular is a sure fire way to get Apple even more exposure in an affort to curb the seemingly unstoppable growth of Android integrated devices. Just a few months back, Apple and Target struck a deal that allowed the giant retailer to carry Apple's iOS devices so it seems only natuarl that they have the entire suite of Apple services. In addition to Target, Apple also has the same "store within a store" design rolled into several Best Buy locations across the nation.

{Via Apple Insider}

"Waterproof" Pantech Element To Hit AT&T on Sunday

2012-01-04T11:39:00.000-05:00

By Rob Boggan

With CES right around the corner, we'd pretty much figured carriers would start slamming consumers with their latest and greatest tech acquisitions. First out the gate appears to be AT&T with it's Pantech Element LTE capable tablet. Rocking a sweet 8 inch display, dual core 1.5 GHz processor and Android 3.2 Honeycomb, expect to have your pretty standard feature set available on this puppy when it launches. As far as the "waterproof" labeling, don't get your hopes up too fast as the Element has only been able to secure an IP57 rating which essentially means that "waterproof" translates into "don't submerge me unless you plan on buying another tablet soon." Reportedly available THIS Sunday January 8th from AT&T, potential buyers of the Pantech Element will be expected to plunk down $299 on new 2 year contract on the tablet, or $449 without.

Any of you out there picking this one up? Or are you waiting for the full lineup to be revealed at CES?

{via BGR}

Update: The Pantech Element will be available as order only until January 22nd, at which point we'll all be able to swing into a retail store and pick one of these puppies up.

Motorola Droid Xyboard Review

2012-01-04T11:17:00.001-05:00

By Rob Boggan

It's been a solid year since Motorola first tossed their hat into the emerging field of tablets. Their first foray into the market was the Motorola Xoom, a tablet that was mildly received and brought with it promises of future LTE connectivity. Being one of the first Android tablets to run Honeycomb, the Xoom faced issues from the start, and once the LTE upgrade hit, that too endured a rocky start. Now, following the European success of the Xoom 2 and Xoom 2 media edition, VZW has launched its stateside version of that tablet, the Motorola Xyboard. With a design just as robotic as its pronunciation, does the Xyboard have what it takes to be a standout tablet in Verizon's lineup? Or will it suffer the same fate as it's predecessor? Check out my review of the Xyboard 8.2.

The first thing I noticed about the Xyboard was with it's elongated body design, the Xyboard definitely feels more comfortable to use in portrait orientation versus landscape. Coated with a soft-touch material, the Xyboard feels really comfortable in hand, and doesn't feel as cheaply made as say, the Acer Iconia. The confusing thing with the Xyboard is the placement of the power button and the volume rocker. Both are located on the underside of the tablet which makes it extremely cumbersome to get to either. I ended up having to turn the tablet over every time I wanted to lock the screen or adjust the volume which isn't terrible, but does take away from the intuitiveness of the tablet and can be frustrating at times. The biggest thing I loved about the Xyboard was it's weight. The entire time I used it, it felt as if I had a smaller tablet in my hands, but I was pleasantly greeted by a screen slightly smaller than that of the iPad. The screen itself is brilliant and I walked away very pleased with it. YouTube HD videos and movies trailers were shown in their full explosive glory, and I would say the screen is as good as the screen of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. Visually, the Xyboard is a well crafted piece of tablet, with a flat black frame that perfectly blends the bezel of the Xyboard with its equally dark rear finish. The back is accented by a grey metal center that really adds to the premium feel of the tablet.

Expect the standard camera set on the Droid Xyboard, as it packs a 5MP rear camera and VGA front camera. The rear camera took pretty decent pictures, but definitely struggled a bit in different lighting conditions. Taking pictures in heavily lighted areas wielded the absolute best results, while low light or poorly lit areas would force the auto focus to over compensate and coupled with the flash, some photos would turn out distorted. I loved the fact that the camera is capable of recording video in 1080p HD, and it didn't disappoint. Videos shot from the Xyboard were pretty high quality and strangely enough, didn't suffer through the same lighting issues as still photos. Running on a dual core 1.2 GHz TI OMAP processor set, the Xyboard ran as smooth as you'd expect it to with almost no lag or choppiness. I was a bit disappointed with the battery life, as I was only able to squeeze out about 6 hours of continuous use on VZW's LTE network. While this isn't horrible, it is a far cry from some of the other tablets available. Around the sides of the Xyboard you'll see the usual micro USB charging ports and a 3.5mm headset jack, along with an HDMI connector port, and the unbelievable LACK of a micro SD slot. I also noticed that the Xyboard rocks an IR sensor which is becoming more popular on tablets as the days pass. Similar to the PEEL smart remote app we ran into on the Galaxy Tab Plus, the Xyboard comes with a universal remote app of its own, properly named Dijit.

All in all, the Droid Xyboard was a solid tablet that performs well and definitely fits right into Verizon's lineup. It doesn't do a ton to distinguish itself as a standout in the bunch, but with its great design and super light weight, it is definitely a good option for those looking for a tablet with a decent size screen and above average portability. While the volume rocker and power/lock keys are located in an awkward position, and battery life is below average these are but a few missteps in an otherwise good tablet. Despite lacking a micro SD slot, users have an option of either snagging the 16GB model ($429.99 with 2 year agreement) or a 32GB model ($529.99 with a 2 year contract).

Which one will you be getting? Let us know in the comments section!

Back At It.

2011-12-31T10:57:00.000-05:00

By Rob Boggan

What a turbulent two years we've had here at Nerd News. We've gained readers, lost writers, but the core remains the same. Our goal is and always has been to provide users with the latest and greatest in tech news and reviews from people who genuinely love technology. We've done a good job in doing so, but it is my personal belief that we could always do better, and that's one thing we have committed to doing this upcoming year. We will intro new content daily, we will introduce a brand new Nerd News layout (yes, another one), and above all else we will continue to share our love of technology with those who share that interest. For those of you who check out the site, whether it be daily, weekly, or once a month, I would like to extend a sincere thank you. For those who may be new to the site, welcome, and enjoy the content!

Rob Boggan
Editor in Chief,
Nerd News

Under Construction: The Nerd News Edition

2011-12-28T12:03:00.001-05:00

By Rob Boggan

If you haven't noticed by now, things have been a bit slow around here, but don't worry we're not going anywhere. In fact we have been hard at work at making a few behind the scenes changes to give all our readers the best experience possible for the upcoming new year! We'll be back bigger and better, with new content starting New Years Eve, so until then feel free to brush up on some stories you may have missed, and be sure to follow us on Twitter, as well as my personal Twitter >>>>RIGHT HERE<<<<<.

Thank you all so much for the continued support, and we'll see you in a few days!

Thanks!

Rob Boggan
Editor In Chief

The Hobbit Trailer

2011-12-21T12:30:00.000-05:00

By Rob Boggan

Well now, what have we here? The trailer for J.R.R Tolkien's monstrously popular book The Hobbit has finally seen the light of day and it looks to be pretty amazing. The story, set 60 years before the events of the Lord Of The Rings Trilogy, essentially tells the story of one of Tolkien's central characters in Bilbo Baggins and his quest to reclaim the Dwarf kingdom of Erebor. With the release of "The Hobbit" we finally get some of our burning questions answered about the origins of certain plot twists from the Lord Of The Rings movies, as well as see how Bilbo and Gollum first met. The first installment of The Hobbit hits theater December of next year, so you have plenty of time to brush up on the books as well as the LOTR movies. Check out the official trailer below!

Are you guys out there ready to see the franchise come full circle? Leave us a comment below!

The Dark Knight Rises Trailer #2

2011-12-21T12:00:00.000-05:00

By Rob Boggan

July marks the beginning of the end for our favorite rebooted superhero, as Chris Nolan's third and final installment of the Dark Knight series hits theaters. This also marks the introduction of Batman's most feared rival to date, into Nolan's ultra dark vision of Gotham City. In this trailer we get to see an older, almost frail looking Batman, as he tries to out muscle and outwit his biggest challenge yet. I, for one can't wait for this movie to hit theaters, but until then check out the 2nd official trailer for The Dark Knight Rises set to hit theaters July 20th, 2012