Samsung Galaxy S2 with Android 2.3.3

The Samsung Galaxy S2 is the phone the Korean firm deems the successor to its best smartphone so far. And with a 1.2GHz processor, super-slim chassis and feather-light innards.

Samsung has realised the importance of keeping its phones up to date, and that promise is upheld on the Samsung Galaxy S2, running Android 2.3.3 from the outset. It's also packing TouchWiz 4.0, the latest version from the Korean firm, and it's a real upgrade.

The TouchWiz interface is overhauled again, and to good effect in our eyes. The Samsung Galaxy S2 has a WVGA screen, which is actually a little lower-res than its competitors these days, but it can still pack a load of widgets all over the place. The same Android system is in place on the Samsung Galaxy S2, but there are loads more widgets on offer to chuck around the home screen, and like the Motorola Defy, these are all easy to resize by dragging the corner to increase the functionality.

With a dual core phone, you'd expect a plethora of messaging options, and once again we're not disappointed with the Samsung Galaxy S2. I'll list the options I've got just to show you: POP/IMAP email, Gmail, Exchange, Google Talk, MSN Messenger, SMS, Text, Twitter and Facebook.

The Samsung Galaxy S2 has an 8MP sensor with single LED flash and a multitude of shooting options. The camera application fires up in just over a second (sadly there's no physical shutter button, so i recommend putting the application on your home screen) and is ready to take pictures instantly.

For the connectivity, the main connections are already present and correct: Wi-Fi to b/g/n standard (although it's not the strongest even next to the router it will only display two bars of signal, but it holds connection fine enough) Bluetooth. This is a relatively new one to us, but thankfully it's not too hard to explain think Bluetooth but using Wi-Fi, and running faster.

The 3.5mm headphone jack lives on the top of the phone, bucking the lower placement on other 4.3-inch screen phones, and the microUSB slot (which also doubles as an HDMI out port) lives on the bottom. Not so much that it disrupts the Samsung Galaxy S2 when you're placing it on a table, thanks to a rear lip to help you hold the phone.

2:54 AM | 0 komentar | Read More

Samsung Galaxy Nexus review

Here are the review from Samsung Galaxy Nexus. The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is the world's first phone to run Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and comes with a plethora of top end tech, including a huge but still massively high resolution screen.

The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is like nothing you'll have seen before from Android. It is a complete redesign and although some bits are the same as they were, on the whole, even long-term Android users like us had to spend a few moments figuring out where things now are.

Navigation is no longer provided via a home button and various keys beneath the screen. Three soft keys are now provided within the OS at the bottom of the screen: back, home and multitasking. The beauty here is that when they're not needed, the OS disposes of them and gives you more screen space to enjoy your pleasures. Icons have been refreshed and look sharper and clearer, it's a much more polished experience to take on the gloss of Windows Phone and iOS.

The specs of Samsung Galaxy Nexus include a fantastic Super AMOLED HD screen, Dual-Core 1.2GHz processor, HSDPA, 5MP camera and NFC support, to name a few. The Samsung Galaxy Nexus itself is fairly big. With dimensions of 135.5 x 67.9 x 8.9mm, it's marginally bigger than Samsung's other flagship handset, the Galaxy S2. It's also a little bit heavier at 135g compared to the latter's 116g. Not that it feels larger although you can tell you are not using an iPhone 4S.

The front facing camera and the brightness sensor plus a cheeky little light beneath the screen that you don't even know exists until you get an email and it begins to pulsate. The sides are fairly unremarkable with power/standby on the right, volume on the left along with three charging pins (for a dock accessory), nothing up top and the bottom housing the charge/sync socket and headphone jack.

The other feature, you can also set a backup pattern so that others can use the phone with your permission without having to bring your head on a stick if the rest of you can't be there. This is the little review from Samsung Galaxy Nexus.

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iPhone 4s Review

The iPhone 4s caught many by surprise, with Apple expected to release the iPhone 5. The iPhone 4s features a glut of top-end tech that is designed to put it on a par with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S2.

The camera of iPhone 4s has been upgraded to 8MP, the CPU is now the same dual-core A5 processor as seen in the iPad 2, and a seven time increase in graphical processing power. iPhone 4s is almost identical in outward design to the iPhone 4, which might irk those that like to show that they've got the most up to date device from Apple when out and about with friends.

Apple has slightly changed the design of the iPhone 4s somewhat though, by changing to a dual-band aerial design, making sure it doesn't encounter an embarrassing repeat of antenna-gate we had to endure with the iPhone 4. For all those that haven't seen the older version of the phone, we'll take you on a tour of the new handset: the top of the iPhone 4s houses the power/lock button, as well as the headphone jack, plus a microphone for noise cancellation.

The new system apes Android by using a drop down menu from pretty much anywhere in the phone to let you see all manner of updates, weather news and messages, plus new notifications will now ping across the top of the screen rather than plopping straight into the middle of the screen like before and disrupting whatever you were doing.

It's the most intuitive system on the market in our eyes - we're fans of the complexity of Android, but not everybody is a power user and for the person that wants a simple smartphone that's easy to pick up and start using, the iPhone 4s is one of the best.

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T-Mobile Blackberry Torch 9810

Here are the T-Mobile Blackberry Torch 9810. T-Mobile just piled another Blackberry on top of their list of RIM devices.  However, unlike Sprint’s Torch 9850 the Torch 9810 sports a slide out keyboard and a touchscreen that is .5-inches smaller, 3.2-inches to be exact.  Powering the BB 7.0 OS is a 1.2Ghz processor, which is further supported by 4G connectivity.  Continuing on its path for mediocrity RIM has included a 5-megapixel camera that can record 720p HD video and sports an LED flash.

If you’re looking for this device, you’ll have to wait until November 9th, when it goes on sale at T-Mobile stores and their website for $249.99 after a $50 mail-in-rebate.  However, if you’re a business customer you can score it one week earlier, which makes sense, since the Torch 9810 is clearly targeted at those folks.

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Logitech Mini Boombox

This is a compact sound system that will cater for a variety of entertainment options ranging from music to movies, games and even calls – since it will be able to pair up easily with most of today’s modern devices such as smartphones and tablets – as long as they are able to support the Bluetooth standard, of course. Like mom said, do not judge a book by its cover, so despite the rather diminutive size of the Logitech Mini Boombox, it can still deliver as you read about it in the extended post.

The Logitech Mini Boombox will come with a specially designed acoustic chamber which will allow your ears to enjoy great sound with enhanced bass, while the built-in speakerphone with an integrated mic will pave the way for clear calls regardless of whether you are at the office, in the car or in the back yard. Apart from that, it does not matter whether you are talking to someone or with a group of people – the Mini Boombox will still be able to deliver all the same.

Just remember, as long as your device supports the Bluetooth Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) standard, it will work just fine – not to mention playing nice with phones that support Bluetooth Hands-Free Profile (HFP 1.5). The internal battery is said to last for up to 10 hours and can be juiced up via USB. Expect to fork out $99.99 for the Logitech Mini Boombox if you are interested.

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Boston Dynamics’ PETMAN

What you are seeing here is PETMAN, which is an acronym for Protection Ensemble Test Mannequin, and it looks like the robot you would build if you wanted to take the Alpha Dog for a walk.

Actually, the reason why Boston Dynamics built PETMAN was to test out clothing worn by soldiers. As you can see in the video after the jump, the PETMAN can easily drop and give you twenty.

Yeah, I thought that this was one of those Terminator robots with a red siren for a head, and it bore a strong resemblance to the robot Hector from Saturn 3. I finally got around to seeing Real Steel a few nights ago, and I couldn’t help but wonder how far we are from real walking boxers of steel. I would imagine that no CG would be required.

It took Boston Dynamics 13 months to design this and 17 months to build, and PETMAN weighs 180 pounds and six feet tall. It can even simulate human reactions like breathing, sweating, and body temperature changes. Don’t worry, this is just a robot to test out human clothing, not to replace humans! At least for now.

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Supertooth Disco Bluetooth Speaker

With a 12 watt subwoofer and 2 8 watt speakers, the SuperTooth Disco really does have a powerful sound to it. For personal use, I find it’s more than capable of blasting my music at roughly a quarter of the maximum volume with the bass boost on. Obviously requiring more energy to run with higher volumes, this setting gets me about 15 hours of continuous play, which is certainly more than I’ve ever needed to run in a wireless environment.

Where the battery life gets truly impressive is in the speaker’s standby mode. The Disco goes into standby shortly after sound stops being transmitted through it, and starts back up again a few seconds after sound resumes. In its standby mode, the SuperTooth Disco can stay powered for 1500 hours. Let me do the math for you here: 62 and ½ days. With a full battery, your SuperTooth Disco can sit on standby for two entire months before losing its charge. The device hasn’t been in my possession long enough for me to confirm this exact figure, but I can confirm that I’ve charged it exactly twice since receiving it, once after getting it out of the box and once after testing the continuous play life. Since then I have left it in standby, bringing it out for a few hours every week or so during a get-together, and the speaker just keeps running.

The SuperTooth Disco isn’t really a suitable solution for your computer desk or entertainment center, but is just fine to keep you entertained in the kitchen or across the bathroom while you’re in the shower. Out in a public setting like a camping trip or even for an old school-style ghetto blaster experience, the SuperTooth Disco shines head and shoulders against just about any other solution. With one of the most amazing battery lifes I’ve ever encounted and a very powerful blast of audio, the SuperTooth Disco will do wonders as an upgrade from on-board speakers on your phone, tablet, or laptop.

The SuperTooth Disco is the most versatile, long-lasting portable audio solution I’ve handled. While there are some flaws in terms of actual audio quality, the output and ease of use wows everybody I’ve shown the product off to. Though it may not be perfect, in the areas the Disco shines, it goes well above and beyond expectations every single time.

And the SuperTooth Disco is available for $117.18.

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YAMAHA PDX-11 Rugged Portable Speaker

The YAMAHA PDX-11 Rugged Portable Speaker. This product category is heating up faster than a Victoria Secret model in a sauna.  Entering the fray is Yamaha with their YAMAHA PDX-11. Octagon shaped speaker houses a unique two-way speaker system and a large 4-inch woofer, which the company says produces strong bass, solid mids and uniquely high notes thanks to the dedicated tweeter.

Clearly, Yamaha is targeting the urban crowd who is always on the move.  In addition to coming in a variety of colors that range from black to a neon green, the YAMAHA PDX-11 sports a metal handle, a perforated steel grille, 6 AA battery slots (it can also be powered of an AC pack) that provide up to 8 hours of playback, a credit card sized remote and an iPhone dock.  If an iOS device isn’t your thing, you can opt for the 3.5mm stereo input jack.

Keep in mind that the YAMAHA PDX-11 weighs 3.3lbs and measures 8-1/4” x 9-3/8” x 9-3/8”.  So, we wouldn’t exactly call it backpack portable, but nor is Yamaha claiming that it is.

Expect the Yamaha PDX-11 to start showing up at retailers this month for $99.95.[source:usa.yamaha.com]

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Plantronics Gamecom X95

The purpose of the Gamecom X95 is so that Xbox players can go with wireless headphones. What happens is the wireless transmitter connects via USB to the Xbox 360, and then sends a signal to the headphones. It isn’t completely wireless, as there is a wire to connect the controller to the headphones.

The end result is more immersive gaming with 40 mm speakers, and it has specially designed earpods and headband. The design is as sleek as it is comfortable, since the designed earpods redistribute the pressure around the ears.

Other features include a volume control on the headphones themselves, not to mention a very cool flip-up microphone boon. There is also a mic-mute button that lets you know when it is on.
All in all, it lives up to its name of being an advanced stereo gaming wireless headset for the Xbox 360. Just to let you know, it is not USB rechargeable. In other words, you will need two AA batteries, that are included with the product. You can get the X on the Plantronics site for a price of $99.99.

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Philips SpeechMike loathes bacteria

Hospitals must be clean and sterile at all times since already sick people head there, and it makes sense to keep the place as clean as possible so that those poor folks don’t get any sicker. Well, some bacteria end up being more and more resistant against a bunch of antibiotics and disinfectants, so it always pays to nip the problem in the bud early on. The Philips SpeechMike would suit doctors with a fetish for cleanliness, as it sports a special antimicrobial surface – making it the only dictation microphone on the market to do so.

Philips stresses that the antimicrobial effect of the SpeechMike is not achieved through a simple coating that can be wiped away using cleaning detergents, but rather, it is based on an additive agent that has been directly added to the housing material. Touted to guard against all kinds of germs, this unique antibacterial media will work exclusively against bacteria, while antimicrobial materials work against a wide range of different microorganisms such as bacteria (e.g. pneumococcal bacilli and multiresistant microorganisms such as MRSA), viruses (e.g. HIV, influenza, etc.), fungi (e.g. Aspergillus niger), or algae.

Philips claims that such an antimicrobial effect on the SpeechMike is able to last for up to 5 years at least, and initial studies on the effect of the antimicrobial additive in the SpeechMike housing parts do point towards a high rate of success in eliminating 99.9% of E. coli and M. luteus bacteria as well as 98.4% of Staphylococcus aureus. Guess all those nasty microorganisms don’t stand much of a chance now – and the good doctor would bode well to brush his/her teeth well too, since bacteria tend to reside in between our teeth, gums and on our tongues.

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