Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Nokia Lumia 710



The Lumia 710 follows Nokia’s first attempt at a Windows Phone 7 smartphone, the mid-range Lumia 800. We had mixed feelings about that phone, but the Lumia 710 is much more temptingly priced at around £300 without a contract. It may lack the gorgeous solid-plastic body of its bigger sibling, but we think it’s still a solid and stylish smartphone. In a throwback to earlier Nokia phones, the 710 has swappable plastic shells so you can change the phone’s colour.

By cutting a couple of corners to keep the price down, though, Nokia has (perhaps inadvertently) given the Lumia 710 a couple of key advantages over the Lumia 800. First is the case. By opting for a more traditional design with a snap-on back cover, Nokia has been able to equip the Lumia 710 with a removable battery. The Lumia 800’s battery was inaccessibly sealed inside its case – although, to be fair, many other smartphones have sealed batteries, too.

Second is the screen. The display used on the Lumia 710 lacks the Lumia 810’s striking convex shape, but it is just as bright and exactly the same size. More to the point, it’s also considerably clearer, since the standard LCD technology used here isn’t subject to the same fuzzy-looking text problem that the Lumia 810’s supposedly more sophisticated Amoled screen technology can suffer from.

Despite being £130 cheaper than the Lumia 800, the rest of the Lumia 710’s specification really isn’t that much lower. Storage capacity has been halved to 8GB and, since Windows Phone 7 doesn’t support memory card slots, that may be too little for anyone who likes to listen to a lot of music or watch lots of videos on the go. Nokia has trimmed the mobile network support too. The Lumia 710 is a tri-band smartphone rather than quad-band, which means it can’t be used in as many countries, but that’s something only the most globe-trotting users will have a problem with.

Otherwise, the Lumia 710 has the same fast processor as the Lumia 800, the same 512MB of memory and the same 480x800 pixel resolution screen as well as an identical array of sensors such as orientation sensors. Nokia has downgraded the autofocus digital camera from eight megapixels to five megapixels, though, and dropped the fancy Carl Zeiss lens that the Lumia 800 uses. That said, even though the Lumia 710’s photos are obviously lower resolution, their quality didn’t noticeably lower quality to our eyes, though perhaps that is only because we weren’t that impressed with the ones snapped by the Lumia 800.

We have no complaints with call quality and even battery life is respectable, with the Lumia 710 lasting for 33.5 hours in our MP3-playback test with the screen off and all wireless connections disabled.

Like the more-expensive Lumia 800, the Lumia 710 comes with Nokia’s free Drive app. This provides turn-by-turn driving directions and maps designed specifically for use by motorists. The phone also includes the free Nokia Music app, which lets you stream new music similar to the tracks you have already copied to the phone. It’s more like listening to a radio station than a true pick-what-you-want service such as Spotify, but it’s a handy extra to have.

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BlackBerry PlayBook tablet OS 2.0 review


BlackBerry fans, rejoice. Your reason for believing in the beleaguered Canadian manufacturer is here. The PlayBook was throwaway nonsense, an expensively wrapped tablet with a broken OS irritatingly tied to a smartphone. OS 2.0 breaks the shackles and allows the tablet to stand on its own. BlackBerry has opened my eyes to one of the best tablets on the market, one that now I hold in a higher regard than the iPad 2, thanks to the refurbished OS. Let’s see why.
Messaging powerhouse
It’s a BlackBerry, so there’s no reason that the messaging function shouldn’t be both powerful and immensely useable. So let’s welcome the new social networking feature built into OS 2.0. The previous OS sucked an almighty level of balls when it came to email, so now Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and practically any POP3 email account can be added to Messages. The inherent level of flexibility in Messages represents a step up for the PlayBook.
Even better, the keyboard is now autocorrect friendly and far easier to use. Even betterer, OS 2.0 supports SwiftKey, which adapts to the users writing style over time. With an amalgamation of social media, the PlayBook becomes a hub of contact, and it’s unlikely that you’ll need any other device to fill the gap.
I’ll touch briefly on the calendar which now has a Newsreel function which shows news about companies you are meeting with. It’s a nice way of bringing the online world into a mostly offline environment.
Browsing behemoth
HTML5 works like a dream in the new browser and in side-by-side comparisons with the iPad 2, pages load faster on the PlayBook. RIM has even gone the extra mile and included an iOS like “reader” function which cuts the clutter from a website, and presents it in an easy to read format. Look, the PlayBook is a tiny device when compared to the iPad 2, so for a 7-inch tablet to offer browsing at such a degree is a master class of design and functionality on RIM’s part. Best tablet browsing experience? I say, yes.
Crossing the Bridge
If you are still keen on linking your BlackBerry to the PlayBook, then the updated BlackBerry Bridge function should whet your whistle. Two years ago, this function was “the bomb” as in “why do I have to pair a smartphone to get email and calendar support, this thing blows.” BlackBerry Bridge is now a user friendly remote app which lets you control presentations and use your BlackBerry smartphone as an external keyboard and mouse. It works well and there’s barely any input lag.
A fuller package
I haven’t even mentioned how awesome the new BlackBerry store is, thanks to the PlayBook now supporting Android applications. Sure, there is still a shed-load of expensive BlackBerry exclusive apps on the marketplace, but as the app store (hopefully) grows, we’ll begin to see cheaper and more powerful apps emerge. I’m not positive about this though, mostly thanks to RIM’s poor support of its customer base.
What else? Video chat is supposedly improved, but I was unable to wrangle up another PlayBook user to test this. No Skype for now, so this is a major failing on RIM’s part.
Also, folders. Since iOS 4, the world has gone nutty for folders. Not the PlayBook though. But thanks to OS 2.0, users can now drag and drop apps into its respective folders and customise the quick dock with six of their favourite apps. Handy and ultimately, very necessary .
I’ve only included the highlights of the OS 2.0 update. The full details can be found here. Regardless, this is an OS upgrade which utterly changes the PlayBook, turning it into a useable device which, if it had benefited from Apple’s marketing machine, could have taken a healthy bite out of the tablet market.

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iPhone 4S, Samsung Galaxy S2 sans Android Ice Cream Sandwich top smartphone sales in United States


Apple’s iPhone tops lucrative smartphone market in the United States, while Samsung and its Galaxy S2 and Nexus steal the second place.

The iPhone, with the new iPhone 4S variant, is topping the smartphone sales chart in United States — and surprisingly, only the iPhone-less carrier, T-Mobile USA, hailed an Android phone.

According to a report posted by All Things D, Canaccord Genuity revealed that the iPhone 4S is the most popular smartphone of Sprint, AT&T and Verizon Wireless since December 2011, and last month, the iPhone 4S beats the Samsung Galaxy Note of AT&T, an LTE phone, and the new Droid RAZR Maxx of Verizon Wireless which offers LTE too.

The iPhone 4S market share, apparently, started growing its market share last quarter, and with no solid contender from the Android ecosystem, Apple’s smartphone reportedly outsells all other smartphones of Sprint and AT&T combined, and roughly equal volume to all Android-based smartphones of Verizon Wireless, the largest wireless carrier in the United States.

Unsurprisingly, Samsung Electronics and its Samsung Galaxy S2 and Samsung Galaxy Note grabbed the remaining spots, and based on the chart posted by the report, Samsung is the one and only Android smartphone maker that can compete against the iPhone 4S.

Samsung’s Galaxy S2 started its second place spree last year with the help of Sprint and AT&T’s networks, while the Galaxy S2-less Verizon Wireless hails the Samsung Galaxy Nexus as its second-most popular smartphone. However, Verizon’s attractive Droid Razr and Droid Razr Maxx, according to Canaccord Genuity, started outselling the Samsung Galaxy Nexus two months ago.

Meanwhile, T-Mobile’s Galaxy S2 is its most popular phone, while the HTC Amaze 4G is cemented on the second place.

Unlike the Samsung Galaxy Nexus which offers Android Ice Cream Sandwich, Samsung’s Galaxy S2 is still running the old but respectable Android Gingerbread operating system, and no word yet from Samsung about the Galaxy S2 US variants’ ICS or Android 4.0 software update. It is worth noting that some Galaxy S2 variants in other countries are already enjoying the new operating system. ■

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Nokia T7-00 Smartphone gets through FCC


Once spotted in China the Nokia T7-00 has finally hit the FCC and got through it, at a glance the device is really trimmed-down version of Nokia’s flagship Smartphone Nokia N8. but when you make close look at the device you can see that rear camera has been dropped to 8MP from 12.
According to FCC documents the device is 1700MHz WCDMA band, a.k.a. AWS, the device was first surfaced back in March and a few days later, Images of the Smartphone spotted online and was enough to get much idea about the device.


The Nokia T7-00 looks almost exactly like the N8 – except that the protruding camera module has been replaced by an 8MP (probably fixed-focus) unit that sits flush against the aluminum unibody. The HDMI port is gone too and the CPU supposedly ran at 700MHz (instead of 680MHz as the N8).
The FCC document shows both the the 850/1900MHz GSM bands and the 850/1700/1900 WCDMA bands . The label at the bottom of the device says TD-SCDMA/GSM, just like the Chinese model we’ve seen in the spy shots.
Anyway, anything is not pretty sure about the device and confusing with model and design, Anyway let’s wait a little to see things be clear.

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Pay As You Go Phones and Contract Phones - The Choice is in Your Hands


The age of civilization has glided into a technologically advanced stage, where gadgets and machines are your best friends. Speaking of best friends which are known to be a byproduct of technology "mobile phones" seemingly are top on our priority list. These tiny and wonderful devices have enhanced our communication approach and one can reap maximum benefits from its technology. The mobile community has woken up to the power of these communication devices and appreciated its magnificence. Mobile phone users also have to make a choice regarding their mobile services prior to the activation of their phone. The choice which they have to make is between pay-as-go-phones and contract phones. The user is sometimes in a dilemma to take the right decision while choosing for a specific deal.

The pay-as-you-go phone deal is well suited for college going students, teenagers, travellers and elderly as those availing its services can resort to limited talking and they can keep a tab on their mobile expenses. These phone deals are ideal for those who have limited finances and cannot afford to spend their hard-earned money on their mobile usage. The user of this deal would have to recharge their phone once their calling balance has been exhausted. The user can make a preference over a specific service provider and avail its services for as long he/she desires. However, the user of this plan has the disadvantage of not being able to make or receive calls beyond their balance. At times, a low balance demands that the user makes a short conversation which would not be desirable to the caller. Short conversations or incomplete conversations takes away the fun from the whole idea of having a mobile phone. Mobile phones are saviour in times of emergency conditions, but the inability to make calls due to nil balance is a disappointing affair.

To override this situation, the concept of contract phones is fast gaining momentum and popularity. These phone deals are designed for those who use their mobile phones extravagantly and have a high call percentage. It is ideal for businessmen and people who maintain a high-profile. The contract phone deal will enable the user to talk without any interruption. The deal requires an individual to sign a contract for usage of their handset. The duration of the contract can vary form 12 months to 18 months. It is the most preferred choice for those individuals who want to avail a specific mobile service for a long time. The user will be expected to pay a small amount to avail the services of a particular network operator. In addition to this the phone deal offers attractive incentives such as free text messages, free talktime, free gifts such as i pod and laptop. and subsidised call rates. According to the contract the user has to pay a specified amount for a period of time. The user with the availability of this deal can also upgrade his/her handset with the latest mobile technology. The user under this phone deal can sign up a contract with some of the esteemed service providers such as T-Mobile, Sony Ericsson, Motorola and Samsung. These phone deal are well supported by Samsung, Motorola and Nokia mobile phones. The user, once he/she is satisfied with the benefits and conditions offered by a specific network provider can select it to avail its services. Nowadays some of the latest and most desirable mobile phones are also available with this deal. By and large, the phone deal will give the user the privilege of uninterrupted communication and alluring benefits.
BCMPD offers Contract Phones and Pay as you go phones with Nokia Mobile Phones on UK mobile phone networks contract.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1673135


Sim Free Phones: Communication Renewed


Handsets are of so many kinds but it depends on personal choice which phone a person will choose. Purchasing a mobile handset is not the toughest part but paying for the cell phone statements might be for some people. That is why it is always encouraged by the network providers that people should opt for deals. Even within deals there are some offers that are better than others. SIM Free Phones are known to be better than many other schemes.

Advantages to this scheme are numerous which will finally lead you to get reduced bills. The advantages are as follows. The SIM Free Phones are available in all the handsets. You name it and you will get it. This plan is very freely obtainable with all the network companies in the United Kingdom. All the renowned companies have this scheme. After opting for the deal you will have complete liberty to either stay with the service provider or change the service provider. This freedom to change networks is a complete enjoyment as some others schemes do not allow it. The liberty of changing networks gives the user an idea of all the network companies and even a better idea about their working. The list of advantages will just go on and on, this is how extraordinary this offer is.

Internet has increased the scope for doing so many things which otherwise would be restricted. There are instances when you feel like doing nothing at all but it is absolutely essential for you to buy a mobile deal as your bills are shooting of the roof. Then you need not worry because even if you are not willing to go to the company you can just log on to the various web sites for this deal and order it from there. SIM Free Phones are very easily available for the people unlike some other plans which are very hard to find.