LG Nexus 3D?: Who will make Google’s next Nexus handset?

In the world of smartphones there are two sides who hotly debate about which phones are better. For obvious reasons I won’t name them both (as it should be evident) however I will mention that the premium sector of one those sides is Google’s Nexus handset, which first became available to the world on January 5th last year (2010 for the time travellers out there).
The Nexus One (as it was so amptly named) was manufactured by Taiwanese handset maker HTC, and was widely regarded as the flagship Android totting handset of it’s time, summed up through its genuine exclusivity.
On December 6th last year Google then announced an update to the current Nexus One, the Nexus S, which was and is manufactured by Korean manufacturer Samsung. This particular handset received rave reviews from multiple websites, and featured curved glass for *face meet phone* comfort.
Based from the above couple of paragraphs, you do have to say that it is obvious that Google is running through a cycle of manufacturers to make it’s generations of flagship smartphone. So who’s next? Well it certainly won’t be HTC or Samsung that’s for sure.

LG Nexus 3(D?)

For me LG is going to probably be the next manufacurer in line to create the Nexus S. This is down to two reasons, first and foremost is that Taylor Wimberly, formerly of Android and Me, posted his farewell post on his blog, and dropped one last major “Android Insider rumor report” by saying this:

LG Nexus 3 with Tegra 3 by Christmas…

Now, i’m not saying that Taylor Wimberly is 100% correct, however this rumour certainly does sound tasty, doesn’t it?. Second of all it just sounds ‘right’ for LG to make the next Nexus, due to their latest Innovation in the Optimus 3D (Nexus 3D, anyone?).

Sony Ericsson Nexus 3

Another key manufacturer who could create the Nexus ’3′ is Sony Ericsson, who’s latest smartphones such as the Arc are wonderful looking, yet feature an operating skin which some people despise. The combination of Arc build quality and stock Android would be a sure win.
Alas though my friends, we will not know who is going to be the next manufacturer for Google’s Nexus, however the two listed above are hot favourites and for me, LG takes the cake.

Guide: How To Tether Your Smartphone

Tethering is the term given to using your smartphone as a modem, providing access to wireless internet on another device such as a laptop or tablet computer. Tethering has grown in popularity since the introduction of 3G mobile connections and the ability to use mobiles as modems. It has proven to be very useful when there is no access to Wi-Fi hotspots or for emergency internet access.
The act of tethering your smartphone is not particularly difficult, but there are different methods of doing it depending on what device you have.

Tethering an iPhone

The Apple iPhone makes tethering as easy as possible, you simply tap a switch. On your menu, tap “settings”, then press “general”, click “network” and simply press “internet tethering” to turn it on. Once your iPhone has tethering up and running, you can connect your device to a USB port on the computer and use the phone just as you would use a dongle.

Tethering an Android device

The great thing about Android smartphones, whoever they are manufactured by, is that they all have access to the same Marketplace. Here you can find all sorts of tethering applications which enable you to turn your phone into a modem; however, two that have been recommended are Easytether Lite and PdaNet. Download and install either of the apps, you might also have to download the appropriate package from their website, on the device you plan on connecting to as well.
There is one more thing you need to do before connecting up to the computer, tap “Menu”, select “Settings”, then “Applications”, and “Development”. In here check the box labelled “USB Debugging” and click OK. This allows apps to stream data directing from your Android phone to the device. Now simply hook up your smartphone to the computer and you’re ready to surf.

Tethering a BlackBerry

BlackBerry Desktop Software 5.0.1 allows users to configure any BlackBerry smartphone as a modem, so your first task is to install this software. Secondly, you need to set up the internet access point name (GSM devices only) and configure the Dial-Up Networking (DUN), but these are one time only procedures.
Once you have done these you simply connect your BlackBerry to the computer and open the Desktop Manager. Click “Start” > “Control Panel” > “Network connections” > “Name of new connection”, and click “dial”.
This is a guest post from Choose, a consumer site that helps users compare broadband deals and compare mobile phones.

samsung galaxy s2,htc sensation and iphone 4

Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo review

Ah, the mid range. The hardest fought area in the whole of smartphone-dom, every manufacturer wants to produce a relatively cheap phone with the kind of build quality and specs to deal with the big boys. So what about the Xperia Neo then? Does it have what it takes to stand alongside such peers are the Desire S? Read on, and be sure to check out our Arc and Play reviews.

Design/Build quality

Let’s just get this out of the way, shall we? The Xperia neo is ugly. From it’s angled back to the chrome effect sides it smacks of lazy design. Sony have opted to place more buttons along the side of the phone (as seen in the image above) and while I agree that power buttons should generally live on the side I disagree that placing the volume rocker in the middle of the right hand side is the correct way to go about it. When holding the phone with your left hand your middle and index fingers naturally rest on it, so while gripping it’s extremely easy to press the volume controls. The same goes for holding it with your right hand, the palm of your hand instinctive presses against it. The HDMI, USB and 3.5mm headphone jack are all located up top.
Not to mention, this is a chubby little kid. At 116 x 57 x 13 mm it’s as thick as my original Motorola Milestone (a phone with a slide out keyboard), while this does make sure it fits nicely in the small of your palm (unlike the Arc) it also makes it look much cheaper than its intended price point. Especially considering the low quality of the materials they’ve used to craft it, such as cheap plastics and creaky back doors.

Screen

The screen on the Neo is a 3.7″ LCD Panel, packing 480 x 854 pixels, giving it a slightly higher pixel density that the Desire S. Colours are well represented and viewing photos taken with the 8MP camera was a really pleasurably experience. As to be expected at this price range viewing angles weren’t superb by any stretch of the imagination but they’re perfectly serviceable in every day use. Touch accuracy is also good, responding to even light taps and swipes, limited to 4 points of multitouch contact. It utilises the Mobile Bravia technology, making all images on the phone look really nice.

Software

As on the Arc, the Neo is running Android 2.3.3 underneath SE’s Timescape UI. As I explained in the Arc review, I’m not exactly it’s biggest fan. During my testing I’ve encountered several random restarts and a couple of crashes in built in software applications, it’s also a bit of an ugly duckling compared to, oh, say, HTC’s offering with Sense. Striking a balance between minimalist and the in your face cartoony ugly fest that is Samsung’s Touchwiz, it’s far from being attractive, despite having some lovely widgets built it.
On the software front, Sony are quite keen on you having UEFA, WhatsApp, Let’s Golf, Postcard, OfficeSuite, Liveware Manager & Music Unlimited. These as usual cannot be removed, which is a shame considering you’re hardly ever going to use the things.

Power

1GHz Scorpion processor, Adreno 205 GPU, Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon. That’s what’s lurking inside the Neo’s bodacious body, it’s also the same as what’s in the Arc & Play. As I’ve detailed before, this particular chipset is more than adept, loading webpages quickly and letting you play any game on the market with no trouble at all. In Quadrant it gets around 1352 and 38 MFLOPS in Linpack. Sadly though, the case still stands that despite how powerful the chip, Sony still haven’t got their software at 100% yet. Doubtlessly this will come down the line in a software update, but as it stands all three of their current flagship phones suffer the same irritating lack of finish.

Camera

Well you knew the Neo had to have something up its sleeve, didn’t you? Yes, the camera on the Neo is superb. Actually among the finest phones in a camera I’ve ever used. It captures massive amounts of detail in both light and colour, giving pictures a rich depth. Sony’s camera app might be a tad fiddly but there’s plenty of replacements on the market. The same goes for the 720p recording function which while massively over egging the shake-correction (seriously, moving it around feels like jelly) produces really nice quality video that looks pretty great outputted onto your tv via the HDMI cable (not in box). Also of note is that the Neo has two microphones for better sound recording, this works beautifully when capturing voice in video.
The Neo also packs a front facing camera, which, as all current trends indicate is everybody’s favourite gimmick (well, behind 3D, anyway). Unsurprisingly, it takes terrible pictures.

It’s a phone too

Sound quality on the Neo in calls is absolutely fine, as is SE’s messaging app. What, you want more? IT SENDS AND RECIEVES CALLS.

Conclusion

As I said, the mid-range is a really tough place to compete. You’ve got to be cheaper than the big boys, but still keep up to them in both design and hardware. People don’t want to feel like they own an inferior product. Sadly, that’s what the Neo is. Despite having a nice screen, great camera and decent ergonomics I’d find it impossible to recommend this over the HTC Desire S which lives at a similar price point. The combination of ugly design, poor plastics and SE’s unfinished software fare poorly next to the beautiful unibody design and highly polished software of the Desire S. Do yourself a favor, don’t buy the Neo.

THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY

Dell Latitude XT3 now up for pre-order, 2nd Generation Core i processor and all

Looking to replace an aging tablet PC in your arsenal? See the chance to empower your professional life with a touchscreen? If Dell tickles your fancy then the new Latitude XT3 may just be up your alley. With a 13.3″ 1366 x 768 resolution HD screen, choice of 2nd Generation Core i3, i5 or i7 CPU, up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM, HDD and SSD options, this convertible tablet guarantees you might just finish that spread sheet in time to play some Minesweeper!
Getting down to the business side of things, your processor options are Core i3 2310M, Core i5 2520M and Core i7 2620M . Graphics are provided by Intel HD Graphics 3000. The system has two slots for RAM DIMMs supporting up to 8GB of 1333Mhz DDR3. As far as internal storage solutions go you can choose between 250 and 320GB HDD or 128 and 256GB SSD. Connectivity options include 802.11 B/G/N WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet and optional Gobi 3000 Mini Card featuring HSPA-EVDO with A-GPS so you always remain connected. I/O options include 3 USB 2.0 ports, combo mic in, line out port, IEEE 1394, SDHC card reader, VGA and HDMI out ports. An HD webcam comes standard.  The icing on the cake here is the dual-Digitizer display, allowing for up to 4 finger multi-touch and active pen input. Also included is a Multi-touch Touchpad and optional backlit keyboard as well as fingerprint reader. Windows 7 Home Premium is running the show here, although you can pick Unprofessional or Ultimate (32 and 64 Bit for whichever version you pick). Pricing starts at $1789 and only gets higher. Start saving folks.

Toshiba’s Qosmio F755 will sport glasses-free 3D August 16th, for $1,699

Remember the Qosmio F750 glasses-free 3D laptop we got our paws all over back in July? Well, it seems like it’s gotten a makeover for it’s US preview, and is now renamed the F755. Thankfully, we’re not going to leave you with just news on it’s new name — we’ve also got pricing and a release date for you aswell. Come August 16th you’ll be able to get your hands on Toshiba’s 15.6″ media monster starting at $1,699. The notebook will pop up in Best Buy, Fry’s and Newegg on the same day, sporting the Core i7 processor, 6GB of RAM, 750GB hard drive, Blu-ray drive and a GeForce GT 540M GPU. Unfortunately it won’t be able to transform 2D games to 3D out of the box, at least not yet, although Toshiba have teamed up with Nvidia to deliver the feature by around November. Atleast for now, you’ll just have to sit in the corner with your Macbook Air.

Asus Eee Pad Slider coming Fall 2011

Do you remember the Eee Pad Slider from a long time back? We don’t know about you, but we do. We’re excited to let you know that it’s finally coming out, in all of it’s full slide-out QWERTY keyboard and Android 3.1-having glory.
You might recall it measures 10.1″, and sports a dual-core Tegra 2 processor. Plus, it will include USB, Micro SD and mini-HDMI slots, and it’s upgradeable to Honeycomb 3.2, which adds to it’s sportiness. No info on pricing yet, but we should expect a fall release.

iPhone 5 launch in late September?

Yesterday, and AT&T employee confirmed that stores around the country would be holding a special product launch at the end of September or early October, which points to answers to the iPhone 5 rumours going around the interwebs at the moment. What do you think? Is it the launch of the iPhone? Atleast for now, all we can leave you with is images of the rumoured iPhone Air.

predicted!

TabCo is Fusion Garage, Grid 10 is the new JooJoo Tablet as we predicted!

The wait is finally over. TabCo has shown its true colors and has revealed itself to be Fusion Garage, (as we predicted) and amazingly they have had the financial backing to release ANOTHER tablet. This time around its powered by the “Grid OS with Android application” – meaning that it can run Android applications.

The tablet itself does in fact bring a slew of hardware advancements to the 10.1″ Tablet scene. With a 4 point Capacitive Touch Panel and a 1366 x 768 resolution display this tablet is already slightly ahead of the pack.  It is powered by the Nvidia Tegra II 1.2GHz Dual Core SOC however unlike its Android Honeycomb competitors it only has 512Mb of RAM. It features a 1.3 megapixel front facing camera, built in microphone, two 0.5 watt “loudspeakers”, combined 3.5mm headphone and mic jack. As for storage you are looking at 16GB of internal flash memory expandable by Micro SD card.
Moving on to wireless options and this is where this tablet truly packs a punch. Standard 802.11 B/G/N Wi-Fi is complemented by Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, and then it gets really crazy with its Quad band 3G (HSDPA) and Quad band GSM. Of course the real treat here is the Micro SIM card slot and this should be loads of fun to deal with when changing networks. Other sensors include GPS/AGPS, Accelerometer, Ambient Light and 3 axis Gyroscope. A 5800mAh battery keeps this tablet juiced. Now as for the pricing, the 16GB Wi-Fi version is $499  and the 16GB Wi-Fi + 3G is $599. It will Ship on September 15th. Now to get some hands on time.
Via: FusionGarage. My friend Andrzej from Tabletblog.de has a compilation of Video and pictures from the launch event.

Choosing the smartphone that works best for you

Choosing the right smartphone is a daunting task. Potential buyers need to think through several factors including cost, features, performance and more. The good news is that with several dozen quality smartphones on the market, there will be options that serve your specific needs and interests.
So whether you are seeking a smartphone to play games, get more work done, give to your children or just run reliably throughout the day, there are plenty of options to consider. Here are the best.

Best smartphone for business

While most professionals know about the BlackBerry, the business phone that deserves more attention and runs on a familiar Microsoft platform is the Dell Venue Pro. This enterprise-focused smartphone, which is available for T-Mobile and AT&T subscribers, is an elegant-looking device with its 4.1-inch AMOLED display and slide-out keyboard. With sizable buttons and pronounced tactile feedback, the Dell Venue Pro is great for typing emails and taking extensive notes on the fly.
The phone’s Windows Phone 7 software may not be the most exciting mobile operating system, but it is arguably the most reliable. Further, if you or your business already run Windows products like Microsoft Office, the WP7 platform offers the most seamless integration. The Dell Venue Pro is currently the best device available on that platform, which also has its share of fun and games. When you're waiting for a flight at the airport or killing time between meetings, the Dell Venue Pro offers thousands of apps and even Xbox Live integration.
Of course, there is no denying that the BlackBerry is a top-dog for many business-focused smartphone users. With its robust operating system, advanced messaging capabilities, efficient keyboard and no-nonsense approach, manufacturer Research In Motion still has a strong grip on the corporate market. Another important benefit of BlackBerry smartphones is that they are available to customers of all major carriers including Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon.
Increasingly, business users are also embracing iPhones and select Android devices. Just make sure to get the green light from your company’s technology managers before making the purchase.

Best smartphone for gaming

Apple made this one easy with the iPhone, and specifically the iPhone 4. And with the next generation just around the corner, iDevices will offer even more fun for gamers. Beyond the state-of-the-art graphics and controls that set the standard for gaming on mobile devices, there are more than 70,000 iPhone games available in Apple’s App Store. Whether you are simply a casual gamer who likes to occasionally tap into a crossword puzzle or a hardcore action-arcade fanatic, there truly is something for everyone. The popularity of a game like Angry Birds, which began life on Apple’s smartphone before hitting other platforms (and, essentially taking over the world), has made everyone stand up and take notice. It’s also telling that instead of console and PC games shaping the iOS gaming market, the tide is beginning to turn. Games that were created for iPhones including Fruit Ninja, Backbreaker Football, and the aforementioned Angry Birds are now available on major consoles. The iPhone 4 is currently available for AT&T and Verizon customers.
The iPhone of course is not the only game in town. We’d be remiss to not give Sony Ericsson’s Xperia PLAY a brief mention. This Android-powered device is sometimes known as the PlayStation phone as it can play classic old titles from the original console in addition to the thousands of current games in the Android Market. However, there’s no denying that commercially it is a bit of a flop. Despite some nice hardware, including the familiar PlayStation slide-out gamepad, the device hasn’t really taken off and received a price cut pretty soon after launch. However, the convergence of mobile and console gaming is certainly something that will grow over the coming years, so perhaps the Xperia PLAY has started a precedent, even if hasn’t been much of a success itself. The Xperia is currently available for Verizon subscribers.

Best indestructible smartphone

OK, perhaps ‘indestructible’ is a bit of a stretch. But there is no denying that there is a market out there for smartphones that offer great features and functionality, but can also withstand a darn good beating. One such device is the Casio G’zone Commando. This Android-powered device on the Verizon network can withstand dust, extreme temperatures and even immersion in water. The Commando also sports high-powered front speakers that let you carry on hands-free conversations while you work out or even cascade down a ravine.
The Motorola Defy is also worthy of mention in this category. Marketed as a rugged and durable Android device that still sports a slim profile and large screen, it features Gorilla Glass to prevent scratches to the touchscreen and can also reportedly stand being dipped in water. The Motorola Defy is available in the U.S. on T-Mobile.

Best smartphone for battery life

Here's a phone that could easily fit in the category above, too. While the Sonim XP1300 CORE doesn’t run on a major operating system like Apple’s iOS, Google’s Android, Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 or BlackBerry, it does offer email, a browser, FM radio and other familiar features. But what is most impressive is the phones’s 18-hour talk time and 800 hours of standby life. There are not many devices on the market that can boast anything close to that kind of battery life, which is why it sits at the top of this list. The Sonim XP1300 is available for AT&T and T-Mobile customers.
Still, Sonim’s main offering of massive battery life will not please everyone. If you’re already rocking a much more dainty iPhone or Android smartphone, there are still some steps you can take to prolong your battery life. The iPhone 4 is certainly good for gaming, but a few hours of Infinity Blade and your juice will be depleted before lunch. As for that hot new Android with 4G connectivity: sure, it’s fast, but all that power comes at a cost. These days it pays to have a spare charger at work or school just in case. Even with moderate use, most smartphones need to be recharged by the end of the day at the very least.

Best value smartphones for teens

Mom and dad might not want your greasy mitts all over an iPhone 4 just yet, but the Apple iPhone 3GS still offers a lot of phone for just $49 instead of the $200 asked for the premium iPhone 4. Admittedly, as iOS continues to be updated and developed, the older device might not be able to do as much as its newer brethren. Still, it’s a competent device for casual gaming, communications, music and navigation. The iPhone 3GS is exclusive to AT&T customers.
Though we already mentioned BlackBerry in the business category, many teenagers are also turning to the RIM smartphones. BlackBerry devices are often free these days (although still require a pricey contract), and they offer the rugged reliability and easy texting capabilities that both parents and teenagers enjoy.
We should also mention T-Mobile’s line of fun and friendly Android devices aimed at the younger generation. The carrier, which pending regulatory approval will be acquired by AT&T, offers cheaper voice and data plans than many of its competitors. Further, T-Mobile’s handsets like the colorful Sidekick 4G with its slide-out keyboard or myTouch 3G Slide (available in white or red) are fun, less expensive alternatives to the many other devices out there. They are worth a look if the newest, flashiest, and more expensive devices aren’t something you want to see in your kids’ hands just yet.