RIM Blacberry Bold Touch Montana Smartphone

Blackberry announced to release a new smartphone namely Blackberry Bold Touch Montana. Blackberry Bold Touch Dakota/Montana has a 2.8 inch touch screen with of 640×480 pixels resolution. It also looks has a compass and motion sensor. While from the previous leaks have known that the Bold Touch will use Snapdragon processor (possibly 1.2 GHz), 512MB RAM, 5MP camera with 720p video recording capabilities. This device has a 6.5GB of storage space remaining.

The Blackberry Bold Touch Montana runs Blackberry 6.1 operating system, wide QWERTY keyboard, Optical Track pad, 5 mega pixels camera with LED and digital zoom and Geo-tagging, 7209 HD video recording, Magnetometer sensor, Accelerometer sensor and Proximity sensor.

The Blackberry Bold Touch Montana will also include Wi-Fi, EDGE, GPRS, 3G, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP and ED, GPS with A-GPS, Blackberry Maps, NFC, 32 GB microSD card slot, Java MIDP 2.1 and HTML browser, microUSB 2.0 port and 3.5 mm audio jack.

The upcoming smartphone operates GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 / CDMA 800 / 1900 / HSDPA 900 / 2100 / CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Mhz. The touchscreen device support for various types of connectivity options such as GPRS, EDGE, 3G etc., and Near Filed Communication (NFC).

Blackberry Bold Touch Montana Smartphone Features:

2.8 inch TFT capacitive touchscreen with 16M colors
5.0 megapixel camera with LED Flash and Geo-tagging
Touch-sensitive controls, & Optical trackpad
Includes Magnetometer, Accelerometer, & Proximity sensors
Provides camera resolution of 2592 x 1944 Pixels & digital zoom
Supports MP4, H.263, H.264, & WMV video formats
MP3, eAAC+, & WMA audio formats support
Up to 32GB microSD card slot support
Edge, GPRS, 3G, & Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n connectivity
Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, & ED
Runs on BlackBerry 6.1 OS
GPS with A-GPS support, & BlackBerry Maps
Near Field Communication (NFC) support
Instant Messaging
A Wide Qwert Keypad
Can record 720p video
MIDP 2.1, & HTML browser support
768 MB RAM & 8GB internal storage memory
3.5 mm audio jack
MicroUSB 2.0 port


Blackberry Bold Touch Montana/Dakota will be available in Black color and release in August 2011 but there is no price information yet. We will keep track on the update news.

source: hotmobilenews.com

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Google, FTC settle over Buzz privacy concerns

Google and the Federal Trade Commission have settled the complaint about privacy breaches from the launch of Google's Buzz social network in 2010. Google is required to have privacy audits every two years as part of the settlement.

When Google launched Buzz way back in the heady days of January 2010, it automatically signed users up for the service and, unbeknownst to them, shared their address books publicly. Google quickly fixed the issue, but not before users were in an uproar over the privacy breach. The FTC was brought in when a complaint was issued that said that Google used "deceptive tactics and violated its own privacy promises to consumers."

The settlement with the FTC has Google conceding to an independent review of privacy procedures once every two years, and a consent from users before privacy policies are changed in the future. The privacy issues with Buzz held it back from catching on and becoming as popular as Twitter, although it is still in use today.

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Casio G-Shock: Bluetooth edition incoming

Casio G-Shock fans are in for a tech treat as the popular watch series is all set for a 21st century injection.

Over at the BaselWorld watch expo in Switzerland the Japanese company was showing off a Bluetooth enabled G-Shock, one that will capable of hooking up with your mobile to let you know about incoming calls, messages and alerts.

And, not just any old Bluetooth, but Bluetooth 4.0, with its low energy capabilities. Meaning your G-Shock shouldn't suffer any serious battery issues.

Plus, the watch still meets Casio's high G-Shock standards. "All of our G-Shock Premium watches have to pass the Triple 10 test," Casio designer designer Hiroaki Kubo told Wired.

"That means a 10 foot drop, 10 bar water resistance and 10 year battery life. In fact this one can withstand 20 bar water pressure.

"We use a mix of plastic resin and steel and to achieve the strength. Solar panels help to recharge the battery so you won't have to replace it, which also helps it to be more waterproof because you do not need to open it."

The Casio Bluetooth G-Shock is expected to hit the shops before 2012 comes around - discussions with smartphone manufacturers are currently ongoing.

source: wired.co.uk

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LG T315 Touchscreen Phone with low price

LG brings a touch screen phone with middle class segment, called the LG T315. In addition to qwerty phone so the current market trends, both from middle class and upward segment. Trend touch screen phones are also much in demand today’s society

The concept of mobile phone design is similar to the senior T310. However, the differences seen in the order button mobile access (dial, end, etc.) on the front side, which appear more flat. Not only that, although diagonal screen has the same size, it turns the touch screen resolution of LG T315 carrying larger (240 × 400 pixels) until the display looks more soft / solid.

Not far different with his senior T310, LG T315 mobile phone has advantages on the side of social networking, where the embedding application SNS (Social Networking Service) directly into the phone. Until it easier for users to use it as a tool and instrument status updates ‘hanging out’ modern with friends / relatives through Facebook, Twitter and others.

The availability of WiFi also seems T315 will pave the way down the virtual nature, nature can help navigate the Internet at any hotspot. Unfortunately, compared LGT310 and LG T315 camera is still not upgraded model equivalent, camera 2 MP. In fact, if we look at the current minimum standard mobile phone cameras at least in figure 3.15 MP.

Well, when you see all the range of features that are plugged into the Motorola T315, this touchscreen phone should dilego in the range of USD 1 million-an. In fact, if you want to be able to hit the market, more afdol released under $ 1 million.

Specifications For LG T315:
Network: Quad Band GSM; dimensions: 123 × 63.2 × 10.9 mm; screen: 262,144 color TFT resistive touchscreen, 240 × 400 pixels, 2.8 inches; Camera: 2 MP (1600 × 1200 pixels), video ( QVGA @ 15fps); sms, mms, email, IM, GPRS, EDGE, WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML; internal memory: 20 MB, microSD card slot (up to 4GB); java MIDP 2.1, polyphonic (MP3) audio jack 3.5 mm, Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g, player MP3/eAAC + / WAV, MP4/H.263 player, organizer, voice memo, FM radio, FM recording, SNS integration, games, loudspeaker, Bluetooth v2.0 (A2DP ), microUSB 2.0 port; battery Li-Ion 900 mAh

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5 excellent iPad apps to boost your productivity

The iPad is a very powerful device that can be used for any kind of tasks you may need to accomplish. With over 300,000 apps on the iTunes market, you can turn it into almost anything you want, from a portable media machine to a vital personal assistant that will help you in your daily life and work.

Hundreds of thousands of users have seen the potential of the iPad right after it was launched and the apps started rolling in, and today, a lot of entrepreneurs and small business owners depend on it for mission critical applications. There are literally thousands of iPad apps for any purpose, from entertainment and media playback to document editing and project managers, and it’s this versatility that allows the device to be a great asset for any individual and company who wants to save time and do everything faster and more effectively. With that in mind, here are only a few of the best (in my opinion) productivity apps for the iPad:

Desktop Connect. This app is truly a must have for the iPad. It allows you to connect to any desktop computer via your Wifi or 3G connection using a variety of protocols, including the Windows RDP and VNC. You can then proceed to control and work with your computer just like you would if you were in front of it – it’s an amazing experience and it’s very useful when you need to work on both the iPad and your Mac.

Taska. Taska is one of the best task planning apps for the iPad, which uses the Getting Things Done methodology to, well, get your things done. It has a very nice interface that reminds of the old paper notebook planners, and can easily be used for planning anything, from your daily shopping list and schedule to small and medium sized projects for your business – it’s a must have for any productive person who likes to be effective.

iQue. iQue is like an especially of your brain on your iPad (or iPhone). If you always need to remember things, but keep forgetting them, there’s no better tool for storing that information for an indefinite period. And iQue doesn’t work like, for example, Evernote – it uses a more sophisticated system that stores info more like your brain than like an app. If you know the PersonalBrain software for Windows – it’s much like it, only possibly better.

Air Sharing HD. Air Sharing HD is the best iPad app for those who store and need to access a lot of data on their desktops, laptops or other remote computers with a big hard drive. It allows you to connect to and browse any device, open and work with the files there like they’re on your iPad – very convenient, as it drops the need to download a file (which can take hours sometimes), edit it, then upload it back.

DeskPad Office. The yellow sticky notes that you used to glue on everything from your monitor to your bathroom mirror are back – only this time they’re cleaner and greener, because they’re virtual on your iPad. Yes, you can now write any note and stick it to the iPad home screen to remember anything you need to – and most of the times, this works amazingly well!

The iPad can really boost your productivity and help you with both day to day tasks and planning long-term projects for your company or your personal life. The only thing you need to learn to take advantage of this is how to find the right apps and how to use them. There are so many, it’s hard to make up your mind, but after checking about a dozen of the most popular ones, you’ll definitely find something that suits you!

source: gadget mania.com

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Andoid Apps : PhotoFunia

PhotoFunia is another neat little whimsy of an app that lets you mess about with your photos and get all arty with them. Rather than installing the effects as software on your Android device, it runs them online.

To get started, you choose an effect you want to apply and then browse to a suitable source image stored on your phone or its SD card. If there’s nothing suitable in your Android Gallery, you can take a new shot. Of note is the fact that you can use both front and rear cameras on your Android device.

We tried this with the Sphinx effect and a shot of Tigger, but the resulting effect -which makes use of built-in face detection – was so subtle we almost missed it. The Mona Lisa in the art gallery was more effec¬tive. We also liked adding our subject to the giant billboard in Times Square.

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Try before you buy the ViewSonic ViewPad 7

ViewSonic is offering a free trial of its ViewPad 7 Android tablet - so you can test the device out to see if you're ready to take the tablet plunge.

James Coulson, European marketing manager, ViewSonic, said: "There are many people that have heard about the new Tablet trend but for various reasons have not yet dived in. Working with Google, we want people to have a good first tablet experience, risk free.

"Customers taking up the offer can use our devices for 30 days free of charge in order to overcome any initial learning curves and really start to appreciate the potential of Android on a great device. The ViewPad 7 is a perfect start into the world of touch technology."

The ViewPad 7 is a 7-inch Android 2.2 tablet, with a 800x480 display, powered by a Qualcomm MSM7227 processor, clocked at 600MHz, with 512MB of RAM.

It only has 512MB of internal memory, so you’ll need a memory card - up to 32GB via microSD is supported. There's also a SIM slot.

Around the back is a 3-megapixel camera and a 0.3-megapixel forward-facing camera is also present for video calls.

So, is ViewSonic right to be so confident that you'll like the ViewPad 7?

We're not so sure. The tablet scored a respectable 7 out of 10 in Pocket-lint's comprehensive review, but is in direct competition, price and size-wise, with the original Samsung Galaxy Tab - which is now on sale for less than £300.

It won't cost to find out if it's right for you though. Simply buy a ViewPad 7 from one of ViewSonics recommended retail partners and if you don't like it, send it back within 20 days for a full refund. ViewSonic will even pay for the postage.

Check out all the T&Cs at viewpadtryforfree.com. The campaign runs throughout April 2011.

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Acer ICONIA Tab W500 Windows 7 Tablet PC

After seeing the ICONIA SMART smartphone, ICONIA Tab A100 7-inch tablet and ICONIA Tab A500, here is another member of Acer’s ICONIA family, the ICONIA Tab W500. Unlike other Android-powered family members, the W500 is a slate-style tablet PC running Windows 7. Like Asus’ Eee Pad Transformer, this Windows 7 ICONIA can be used with the optional docking station with full QWERTY keyboard.

The Tab W500 is powered by AMD 1GHz C-50 processor, AMD Radeon HD6250 graphics chip, 2GB of memory and 32GB storage. The tablet PC comes with a 10.1-inch multitouch display, a 1.3 Megapixel Crystal Eye webcam and Dolby-optimized audio. It supports Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi and HDMI output.

Acer will launch the ICONIA Tab W500 Windows 7 slate PC in Europe for GBP449 or GBP520 with keyboard docking station.

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Nokia E7 UK pre-orders open: Will you stick with Symbian?

When we first copped the Nokia E7 QWERTY smartphone back in September, we were blown away. It’s one of the most beautiful, astoundingly designed phones we’ve ever seen. You’d have thought then, that today’s news that it’s up for pre-order in the UK at long last would be cause for celebration. The thing is, with Nokia dumping Symbian for Windows Phone 7, is there any point investing in it any more? You tell us, right here.
Head on over to Nokia’s UK online store right now and you can pre-order a Nokia E7, either on a £35 per month contract on T-Mobile or Vodafone, £469 Pay As You Go or £499, for delivery in late April. That wait itelf is galling, especially since the Nokia E7 is shipping internationally already, but what we want to know is if you’ve been lusting after this metal beauty with a 4-inch AMOLED screen, do you still want it, knowing that Nokia is all but giving up on Symbian as a smartphone OS?
Last month, Nokia announced its earth shattering plans to switch to Windows Phone 7, but since we’re not expecting the first Microkia phones until next year, that’s a long wait in between, and Nokia is still hoping to sell plenty of smartphones in the meantime.
The good news is we’re expecting our own Nokia E7 review unit imminently, so you can expect a full verdict long before then. Will you be buying? Let us know in the comments.

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MySpace loses 10 million users in one month

MySpace has lost 10 million unique users in the space of one month - between January and February 2011 - dropping down to 63 million members.


Tech analyst ComScore reported that MySpace had 63 million users in February 2011, as compared to 73 million in January 2011.

The social network slashed 500 jobs earlier this year and is seemingly unable to keep up with Facebook, which has been going strength ot strength with its network having half of UK's population as members. It's a sharp departure from when MySpace was the social network to keep in touch with friends and launch musical careers.

Last year at the same time, MySpace was attracting 95 million unique users.

Mike Jones, MySpace's chief executive said to The Telegraph at the end of 2010 that MySpace was no longer a social network and Facebook rival. He said, "MySpace is a not a social network anymore. It is now a social entertainment destination."


Are you a MySpace user? Let us know via our Twitter and Facebook pages and remember to follow/like us to get more news from the world of tech regularly.

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Hundreds queue to buy the Nintendo 3DS at midnight

Nintendo 3DS consoles flying off shelves at midnight

The Nintendo 3DS finally launched in the UK and its midnight launch attracted a large number of gamers.

Stores such as GAME, Gamestation, HMV and more opened their doors at midnight, and got hundreds of people queueing outside their stores to get their hands on the glassless 3D console.

GAME opened 482 branches for a midnight launch as well as early the next morning. "Our GAME and Gamestation stores saw hundreds of gamers queue up to finally get their hands on the Nintendo 3DS," said head of UK comms and PR Neil Ashurst, to MCV.

He also added that they've received great feedback about the 3DS living up to all the expectations.

The Nintendo 3DS has both 2D and 3D modes in which to play games, and various stores were offering deals for the console for the midnight opening. It also broke Amazon's pre-order record.

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A Few Android App Developers Rake in Millions

The iOS platform isn’t the only way to make money on the mobile apps scene.

Tech news site Electricpig took a look at eight groups that have made it big — more than six-digits big — with hit Android apps.

Better Android Apps, for example, has made approximately $1.34 million from purchases of its hits Better Keyboard and Open Home. Yongzh created emulators for the PlayStation, Sega, Nintendo and Atari systems, and gathered about $1.81 million from sales of these apps.

“Conventional wisdom told us that to be successful, we had to focus on iOS. Conventional wisdom was wrong,” said Gary Gattis, CEO of Spacetime Studios.

That certainly seems to be true with the tower-defense game Robo Defense. It has also been a big winner, netting creator Lupis Labs more than $2.09 million.

An estimated 3.7 billion Android apps have been downloaded to date, according to AndroLib. Many developers wish that number would rise at a faster rate and are counting on tools like in-app payments to spur app purchases and developer earnings. However, that hasn’t stopped developers such as Eddie Kim, creator of Car Locator, or almost anyone else on this list, from netting big profits.

These high sales figures illustrate that Android’s app market is finally coming to fruition as a solid distribution platform, where software programmers can make good money. Within months of the opening of Apple’s App Store in the summer of 2008, a few lucky programmers quickly struck gold with hot sales of their apps.

Android has been around for about the same time, and only now are we beginning to see comparably high sales figures for Android app makers. Though Google’s app market has been slower to mature, these success stories should give programmers more incentive to make killer apps for Android-powered tablets and smartphones.

Beautiful Widgets netted its maker, LevelUp Studio, more than $934,000. Halfbrick Studios (maker of Fruit Ninja) has netted more than $242,000 after porting its iOS favorite to Android.

Other big winners, thanks to pop-up advertising, include Rovio, for (what else?) Angry Birds, and Arron La for Advanced Task Manager.

Spacetime Studios‘ Pocket Legends, a 3-D MMO, has managed to garner profits of $8,000 per day from in-app payments, making it a shoo-in for six-figure earnings in the not-too-distant future.

“The Android platform has seen phenomenal growth, and it’s great that new avenues for app distribution are opening up,” Rovio CEO Mikael Hed said in a recent news release.

The addition of new marketplaces like Amazon’s App Store is proof, showing that Google’s OS has the potential to be just as lucrative as Apple’s, and companies want to get in on the action.

Spacetime’s Gattis summed up the Android app scene pretty nicely: “In some ways, it’s kind of like the wild, wild West,” he said, “but that’s where the Gold Rush people made their claim.”

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Intel SSD 320 Series Available on March 28 2011

Intel ready to launch the new 320 Series SSDs on March 28th. It make use an Intel controller, has a 2.5-inch form factor and available in 40GB, 80GB, 120GB, 160GB, 300GB and 600GB capacities. The device will comes features with 25nm MLC (multi-level cell) NAND Flash memory chips, a SATA 3.0 Gbps interface, a random 4kB read/write performance of up to 39,500/23,000 IOPS and 1.2 million hours MTBF (Mean time between failures). The 40 GB of 320 Series SSDs priced at $109, while the 80GB, 120GB, 160GB, 300GB and 600GB models are priced at $189, $239, $329, $569 and $1,119, respectively.

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Acer Aspire 5741G-6983 Review and Price

This laptop can be categorized between the position of mainstream and gaming laptops. For everyday use is ideal also quite capable when used to play games. 15.6-inch display with 1366x768 pixel resolution makes it very comfortable on the eyes. Support Intel Corei5 430M (2.27GHz) and graphics from AMD Mobility Radeon HD 5470 512MB making itcan show videos and games with the slick.

In order to support the smooth performance of this laptop then dibenamkanlah adequateRAM, 4GB of DDR3. Data storage capacity was not kidding, 500GB. Optical drives thatcan be used as the optional Blu-ray drive / DVD burner. 3 USB ports do not forget alsoincluded, HDMI, ethernet, VGA, audio in / out, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, webcam resolution of1280x1024 and 5 in 1 memory card reader is other supporting facilities. The keyboard is quite soft hand until comfortable to wear. Maybe that can be said to be missing is thenumeric keypad is very close to the arrow keys, Delete, Home and Insert that is very likelythe user will press it by accident. While the touchpad is very responsive.

The size of the Acer Aspire 5741G-6983 is 15.0x9.9x1.3 inches and weighs 3kg(including AC adapter). The durability of the batteries up to 3 hours 45 minutes andincludes quite in its class. Operating System ie Windows bundled 4 Home Premium plusNorton Online Backup, NTI Backup 5, PowerDVD 9 and Microsoft Works. Acer Aspire5741G-6983 priced around U.S. $ 850.

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Sony Ericsson X10 to get Android 2.3 after all

On the same day that O2 decided to hold back the release of its exclusive white Xperia PLAY, Sony Ericsson was busy announcing good news to Xperia X10 owners. Later this year, X10 owners can expect to receive an update to Android 2.3. Surprised? So were we!

Sony Ericsson claims that the work it has carried out getting Android 2.3.3 on to the new Xperia models (that’s the arc, neo, pro and PLAY) has enabled them to port the code over to the X10. Sadly, that won’t include the X8, X10 mini or X10 mini pro that all stay stuck on Android 2.1.

After recently giving X10 owners multi-touch (despite Sony Ericsson insisting for over a year that the hardware wasn’t capable), it seems like this handset is getting more attention than most smartphones on the market. It’s a considerable switch from a company that was being criticised for not supporting or updating devices quickly enough. At the start of 2011, Sony Ericsson stated its intention to ensure that future models will be updated regularly, and quickly.

So what next? Sony Ericsson tells everyone that the X10 actually had a dual-core processor with one core disabled, or the screen is actually stereoscopic 3D-ready?

The free update should arrive in Q2 or Q3, and we’ll excuse the company from being more specific, given the fact that this was not supposed to be happening at all.

There will be some compromises though. The key reason for not being able to easily upgrade the X10 was down to the deep integration of the Timescape and Mediascape apps, which Sony Ericsson has wisely separated from the OS to become more like standalone apps and widgets.

This will mean that come the update, users will lose Mediascape completely – and Timescape will become a separate app. The backup utility will also stop working, so another third-party solution will have to be used because the update WILL erase all personal data and installed apps from the device. The camera app will also be replaced for the vanilla Android camera app, which means losing things like face recognition and smile shutter, but hopefully this will also mean that the camera will now have a proper flash control – rather than the totally stupid advanced menu option to turn the light on, constantly, like a torch mode.

The update will also be available via the PC update software only, so no OTA (Over-The-Air) update. It can’t be reversed either, so should anyone really want to keep 2.1 and the old software, don’t do the upgrade!

So where’s the catch? Well, it seems that the update will be issued to generic, SIM-free, handsets and that could mean no updates for users of handsets issued by certain networks.

You can find out more on the Sony Ericsson Blog.

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Cobra iRadar for Android

Cobra Electronics has been a leading manufacturer of radar detection devices for quite some time.  I remember my first Cobra radar detector when I got one for my 18th birthday.  Believe it or not, i still have the unit and it works 10 years later!  Granted i should upgrade it to a newer model to take advantage of the latest detection for all the new type of radar/laser "THE MAN" is using to punish those of us with the the "lead foot disease".  I envision this time coming very soon, perhaps around April 4th, 2011 when Cobra releases their iRadar application for Android!!!

I wont hold anything against them for being on that "other platform" first and making us wait so long to try it on our beloved Android devices.  I plan to embrace this new ability and quite frankly I'm looking forward to this April release date.  The application will be FREE to download via the Android Market as soon as its released.

Features of the iRadar system include:

    * A sleek, compact, dash-mounted detection unit, providing state-of-the-art radar and laser detection technology
    * Cobra’s exclusive AURA Camera & Driving Hazard Database, for up-to-the-minute speed and red light camera alerts, known speed traps and dangerous intersection alerts — all 100-percent verified and updated twice daily
    * Smartphone hardware technologies, including GPS, Bluetooth short-range data connectivity, 3G/4G data services, a brilliant LCD display for rich informational content, and more
    * A smartphone app (for Android and iPhone) for safety alerts, configuration, mapping software, compass heading, car battery status, and more
    * Cloud-based services with social media-like safety alert sharing.  Cobra iRadar users can now submit database updates and alert other iRadar customers in real time to upcoming threats based on their GPS location

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the positive response and accolades we’ve received for iRadar for iPhone from customers, journalists, trade associations and technology pundits, and we’re pleased to extend this powerful driver safety system to the Android smartphone community,” said Sally Washlow, senior vice president of marketing and sales for Cobra Electronics.  “We’ve created a very flexible and dynamic platform for delivering in-car safety, peace-of-mind and protection to our customers.  We will continue to expand this platform, its capabilities, and our iRadar user community.”

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Verizon's 4G Network Doubles AT&T Speeds

Verizon has the fastest 4G network, more than twice the speeds of second-place AT&T, according to a PC World study, but the numbers illustrate the difficulty of blanket network comparisons.

In testing with a 4G-equipped laptop, Verizon's new LTE network stomped the competition in cities where it's available, but the carrier's 3G network, used by all its smartphone users, posted lackluster results that were even a bit slower than in similar tests conducted last year. That doesn't bode well for the influx of iPhone 4 users, but when the company's first 4G handset arrives this summer, it should be very fast.

The beleaguered T-Mobile, facing spectrum shortages and currently in discussions to be acquired by Sprint, actually had the fastest smartphone network performance and placed second only to Verizon's LTE on laptop tests.

AT&T, the nation's largest carrier, placed in the middle of the pack, and Sprint did well on smartphone tests but came in last for laptop use.

Despite the attractiveness of average numbers for analysis, taken as a whole, the results show that blanket statements about network performance aren't worth much, since regions and availability of networks play a large part of perceived speed. For example, if you need laptop connectivity in one of the 38 markets served by Verizon's 4G network, its LTE offering blows everything else out of the water -- but as soon as you find yourself in an area covered by its 3G network, you'll see some of the slowest speeds measured in the tests.

Also, the difference between the slowest and fastest speeds for a given carrier across different cities is often more than the difference between the slowest and fastest carrier on average. This means that where you live can be a more significant variable than the network you choose.

The good news is that almost across the board, speeds have improved in the U.S. over the course of the last year. However, subscribers are wise to privilege their local experience and word-of-mouth from friends over national averages that mask substantial city-to-city variation.

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Stay up-to-date on the latest ETF news with the ETF Database for iPhone

ETF Database today is pleased to announce an update for the ETF Database app for iPhone and iPod touch. The new and improved free app was designed for financial advisors and individual investors interested in actionable ideas, ETF analysis and commentary, and news on the latest additions to the ETF universe. Built on a proprietary classification system, the ETF Database app also features enhanced screening capabilities to help investors find the products to meet their portfolio objectives.

As investors have embraced the lower costs, tax efficiency, and transparency of ETFs, the industry has grown tremendously over the last several years. While that means more ETF options for investors, the surge in number of products has also made navigating the universe of ETFs a challenge. The ETFdb app includes information on more than 1,100 ETFs and ETNs available to U.S. investors, including descriptive information that allows users to filter products by sector, region, bond sector, commodity type, and issuer. Basic information on each ETF, including expense ratio, is included in the app, along with a link to complete performance and holdings data.

The new app also includes access to all articles published on ETFdb, one of the most widely-followed and highly-respected sources of objective information and analysis of exchange-traded funds. ETFdb content includes actionable investment ideas, head-to-head fund comparisons, educational content, and news on new fund launches.

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Motorola Pro Android Froyo To Businessman, Price and Specifications

Motorola Pro comes with a touch screen plus a full QWERTY keyboard, 5MP camera, HSDPA network and 8GB storage. Interested in the Motorola Pro?

Motorola Pro looks so sweet because the present with a combination of 3.1-inch touchscreen and full QWERTY keyboard. He runs on the Android operating system Froyo, equipped with a 5MP camera, capable of recording video with a resolution of 720p @ 30fps, and has had a multi-headed AuthenTec IPSec VPN integration, remote wipe devices and SD cards, as well as system passwords and encryption to protect the SD card.

Motorola MotoDroid Pro is the first specifically designed to support the business activities of its users. Quick Support Office as word processing, support for various email services for both personal and corporate, such as Corporate Sync, Gmail ™, POP3/IMAP embedded, Push Email, Yahoo Mail, confirm that the phone is intended for business travelers. For more gahar version, you can choose which is the Motorola Xoom MZ601 tablet pc with the 10.1-inch Honeycomb-based Android OS that is Google's latest operating system.

To connect to the Internet, Motorola Pro is equipped with GPRS, EDGE up to 3G. Besides, still wi-fi facilities to access the Internet via hotspots. This mobile phone also can be used as a router mobile hotspot thanks to 3G technology. Through this technology, we can connect five devices at once that support wi-fi.

In terms of multimedia, the Motorola Pro has been equipped with the main camera 5MP, 2592 × 1944 pixels, autofocus, dual-LED flash, geo-tagging and can record video with a resolution of 720p @ 30fps. For the convenience of multimedia, embedded Adobe Flash Player 10.1 on the phone.

Security becomes a concern which also features Motorola. He has a multi-headed AuthenTec IPSec VPN integration, remote wipe devices and SD cards, as well as system passwords and encryption to protect SD card

Motorola Pro Specifications and Features:

    * 2G Network: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 3G Network: HSDPA 2100
    * Dimensions: 119 x 61 x 11.7 mm
    * Weight: 134 g
    * Screen: TFT capacitive touchscreen, 320 x 480 pixels, 3.1 inches, 16M colors, QWERTY keyboard, Multi-touch input method, Accelerometer sensor for UI auto-rotate, Proximity sensor for auto turn-off
    * Memory: 512 MB of RAM, 2 GB of ROM, 8GB (included), microSD, up to 32GB
    * O.S: Android OS, v2.2 (Froyo)
    * CPU: 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor, PowerVR GPU SGX530, TI OMAP chipsets 3620-1000
    * Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n, dual-band, Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP, EDR, microUSB v2.0, 3.5 mm audio jack
    * Messaging: Email, Push Email, IM
    * Browser: Android WebKit
    * Main Camera: 5 MP, 2592 × 1944 pixels, autofocus, dual-LED flash, Video 480p @ 30fps
    * Other Features:
      Digital compass
      MP3/WAV/WMA/AAC + player
      MP4/WMV/H.263/H.264 player
      Google Search, Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Google Talk
      Quick Office document viewer / editor
      Photo viewer / editor
      Organizer
      Adobe Flash Player 10.1
      Voice memo / dial
      Predictive text input
    * Battery: 1420 mAh Li-on

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Social Platform for BBM Beta Version Ready Downloaded

Research In Motion (RIM) recently announced that the BlackBerry Messenger service (BBM) Social Platform has been available in beta. BlackBerry was first launched at DEVCON 2010, the fuel staying digadang Social Platform will become a successful innovation RIM.

Special fuel is an application platform that allows developers to integrate their applications directly to the fuel using the new API. With this, RIM is open the opportunity for developers to develop more sophisticated apilkasi again. Hope RIM, will be popping multimedia applications, location-based services, games, until the service comes with experience ala VoIPyang fuel.

Happy but confused about what would happen later? This is one example. Suppose you are playing multiplayer games while the direct-fuel at the game. When you're done, you can share the game with using the features in BBM Social Platform. So, share your games, or any application later, can be done more easily. In fact, the fuel is Social Platform, developers can also create custom area within the fuel profile, which can be used to demonstrate attainment and game statistics. Interesting is not it?

Now, with the news that the fuel will be made in the version of Android and the iPhone, hopefully RIM will also include this feature.

Does this fuel even more interesting or boring because it can be enjoyed on the phone than the BlackBerry?

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New Faces Winamp For Android 1.0

Winamp finally launched its version for Android. After yesterday launched a beta version, Winamp 1.0 for Android already available. SHOUTcast features may be the main attraction. Curious what kind of details? Patience, we discussed one by one.
Download and Stream Free Music

Winamp for Android 1.0 has a menu Free Music that makes you able to access songs for free. The song can be heard via streaming or, if you prefer, you can download to your Android device. Free!
Change Menu Now Playing

Now Playing screen now offers a better interface. Touches on the layer will bring up additional options, including the info button, extra keys, shuffle and repeat. Also raises the info button links to articles about the artist singer song being played. Changing any song can now be done by shifting the album art to the left or right. The more simple and interactive.
Home Screen has changed

There are two additional buttons on the Home Screen are: "Free Music" & "Search". Free Music is the link to stream and download songs for free.
Lock-Screen Display

Display lock made to resemble the Now Playing screen. At first glance, you will not see the difference.
Integration with "Listen To" Voice Action

Winamp for Android 1.0 can be accessed using Listen To Voice Action, both from the title song or artist name.
SHOUTcast

SHOUTcast may be a feature that has been long awaited. SHOUTcast Radio Directory is available for Android 2.2 Froyo up (except for some that are not compatible devices such as Motorola DroidX). In the future, will make SHOUTcast Winamp can be accessed through all the Android-based devices.
Additional language support

Winamp supports more languages ​​now. Noted there are 12 languages ​​that can be used are: Home, Dutch, Germany, French, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Romanian, Russian, Spanish and Turkish. The next release will add more languages ​​anymore. Indonesia May included.

Winamp finally launched its version for Android. After yesterday launched a beta version, Winamp 1.0 for Android already available. SHOUTcast features may be the main attraction. Curious what kind of details? Patience, we discussed one by one.
Download and Stream Free Music

Winamp for Android 1.0 has a menu Free Music that makes you able to access songs for free. The song can be heard via streaming or, if you prefer, you can download to your Android device. Free!
Change Menu Now Playing

Now Playing screen now offers a better interface. Touches on the layer will bring up additional options, including the info button, extra keys, shuffle and repeat. Also raises the info button links to articles about the artist singer song being played. Changing any song can now be done by shifting the album art to the left or right. The more simple and interactive.
Home Screen has changed

There are two additional buttons on the Home Screen are: "Free Music" & "Search". Free Music is the link to stream and download songs for free.
Lock-Screen Display

Display lock made to resemble the Now Playing screen. At first glance, you will not see the difference.
Integration with "Listen To" Voice Action

Winamp for Android 1.0 can be accessed using Listen To Voice Action, both from the title song or artist name.
SHOUTcast

SHOUTcast may be a feature that has been long awaited. SHOUTcast Radio Directory is available for Android 2.2 Froyo up (except for some that are not compatible devices such as Motorola DroidX). In the future, will make SHOUTcast Winamp can be accessed through all the Android-based devices.
Additional language support

Winamp supports more languages ​​now. Noted there are 12 languages ​​that can be used are: Home, Dutch, Germany, French, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Romanian, Russian, Spanish and Turkish. The next release will add more languages ​​anymore. Indonesia May included.

The new Now Playing screen makes Winamp for Android 1.0 is more interactive and interesting. Features like Free Music and SHOUTcast could be an attraction for the first release Winamp in the operating system that is much loved. If you are interested, this application can be downloaded at the Android Market. So, enjoy your music!

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iPhone 5: NFC or Not to NFC?

According to sources, Apple was “concerned by the lack of a clear standard across the industry,” and that the company hoped to include NFC in the iPhone in 2012. Yet a new report contradicts the earlier one, claiming that the iPhone 5 will indeed have NFC after all. But which is accurate?

That first report has the feel of a controlled leak, one that sets expectations for technology partners, and is also in keeping with other recent events regarding Apple and NFC. In January, job listings for employment at Apple focusing on wireless payment communications appeared, building upon related hires made in 2010. It takes time to integrate major new technologies into products. Not surprisingly, the iPad 2 was launched without NFC in March, and the iPhone 5 is expected to share iPad 2 tech. It makes sense then that the iPhone 6 in 2012 would be the first iOS device to have NFC. The only problem is that such a timeline could put Apple a year behind the competition.

Citing “people familiar with the project,” Bloomberg is reporting that Google plans to begin testing mobile payments in New York and San Francisco within four months. Thousands of special cash registers will be installed at stores to be used in conjunction with Android devices, most likely the Nexus S (which already has NFC built-in) and could combine “financial account information, gift-card balances, store loyalty cards and coupon subscriptions on a single NFC chip on a phone.”

Going a step farther than field testing, RIM CEO Jim Balsillie announced at the Mobile World Congress that “many, if not most,” BlackBerry devices launched this year will have NFC. From the NFC Times, RIM executives further expanded on that statement, asserting the company wants “to build an ecosystem to try and exploit the capabilities of this technology so all of us can use and have a much more interactive capability in our lives and on our devices.” RIM’s aggressive move into NFC has apparently gotten the attention of wireless carriers. According to The Wall Street Journal, carriers like Rogers in Canada want the data kept on the SIM cards, rather than devices, and that there is “going to be a little bit of a fight” involved in determining which strategy ultimately wins out.

That kind of tumult over NFC in smartphones does indeed mean the technology is far from a “standard across the industry,” but does Apple really want Google and RIM, let alone wireless carriers, getting the first and possibly deciding say on how mobile payments are ultimately handled? Apple already has more than 200 million iTunes Store accounts with credit cards on file, and NFC would seem like the last step in an Apple-controlled system of payments. All that’s needed from the company to throw its hat in the ring is the device. And NFC isn’t just limited to mobile payments. There are plenty of other uses for the tech, too.

There’s new reason to believe that NFC will indeed make an appearance with iPhone 5, at least according to the latest from Forbes. The source of a source (yes, you read that right), who supposedly works at Apple, “believes” the iPhone 5 will have NFC. Considering the money-making potential of mobile commerce, and the impact on mobile platform viability, that’s not much to go on, but until June that may be all we get. Let’s hope we don’t end up having to wait until June 2012 to find out Apple’s plans for NFC.

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Pico Mini Handheld Projector

With the help of the Pico Mini Handheld Projector you will be able to project your videos and pictures up to the size of a home cinema screen. All you need is to connect the mini projector to a  device such as iPhone or iPod. It also works with laptops, PCs and other mobile phones and digital cameras with a USB connection.
The projector itself is small enough to carry in your pocket, meaning that any time you want to show off your snaps and videos all you have to do is get it out and get projecting. There’s a built-in media player with a 4GB capacity, so you won’t run of space any time soon, either.

Pico Mini Handheld Projector features:

    * A pocket-sized projector for all your portable media.
    * Compatible with iPhone, iPod, laptops, netbooks, mobile phones, digital cameras, mobile gaming devices (via USB).
    * Watch videos and slide shows.
    * Also shows business presentations on Powerpoint.
    * USB connection for data transfer and power.
    * Displays images up to 60 inches wide (4:3).
    * 480 x 320 resolution.
    * Up to 2 hours of battery power from full charge.

Pricing and availability

The Pico Mini Handheld Projector price tag is £149.00 and you can find it at IWantOneOfThose.com.

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ViewPad 10 Windows 7/Android Dual-Boot Tablet Available

ViewSonic releases its ViewPad 10  (model VPAD10) dual-boot tablet device with both Windows 7 and Google Android OSes. The 10.1-inch tablet is powered by an Intel Atom N455 1.66GHz processor, 2GB of RAM and 16GB/32GB SSD storage.

The ViewPad 10 features a 10.1-inch capacitive touchscreen LCD display with LED-backlit, 1024×600 resolution and a 1.3 Megapixel front camera. It supports Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and WiFi connectivity. The tablet packs also G-Sensor, E-Compass sensor and ambient light sensor. ViewSonic is offering two models, the VPAD10_AHUS_05 with 16GB SSD and the VPAD10_APUS_05 with 32GB.

The 16GB ViewPad 10 will be priced at $599 and the 32GB model costs $679. The former gets Windows 7 Home Premium and the latter has Windows 7 Professional while both of them have Android 1.6. 16GB model is already available at Amazon.com.

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Xperia play review and price Sony Ericsson Spain

Apparently in an effort to reduce confusion and settle the situation once and for all, Sony Ericsson’s Spanish outpost has taken to the wires today to clarify the pricing and availability situation of the Xperia Play  there: €649 off contract and unlocked (which works out to roughly $907) on April 1st. That more or less lines up with what we’ve been hearing in other European locales, though in Spain, Vodafone will have a 15-day exclusive on the white model — other carriers will only have access to black at first, and none  of the carriers have come clean with on-contract pricing details just yet. Clearly, $900 is an enormously tough sell, but a weak dollar never helps these situations — we’ll need to wait for word on the US retail picture before we’ve got the whole story.

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News Review For Nokia X3-02 Review

I want to share abot news gadget from nokia cell phone. My opinion for nokia x3-02 reviw. Nokia X3-02 uses a touchscreen display 2.4 “with a level of resolution (240×320) pixels. Image generated screen Nokia X3-02 does not feel smooth like the Nokia phone screen more expensive and the light from the screen seemed less bright. But overall, the touchscreen display is comfortable and feels responsive when used.

Keys on the keyboard feels soft when used and the response from the buttons is also very good that feels comfortable when used. Above the keyboard there are 4 standard navigation buttons Nokia is calling, messaging, music and end. At the top there is a 3.5mm headset jack, microUSB port, and charging port Nokia. On the right side there are buttons for adjusting the volume and lock buttons at the bottom and there are only a loudspeaker. In the rear, you’ll discover a 5 megapixel camera without flash fixedfocus.

Nokia X3-02 uses OS Symbian S40 used on other mobile-phone. On the homescreen you will find 4 shortcut icons at the bottom. Then also there are 3 buttons that is Go To, Menu, and Names. Touchscreen screen on Nokia X3-02 was very responsive, to the menu grid on the page menu from the screen movement feels very smooth. You can select an application easily because the application icon looks quite big.

Although Camera on nokia X3-02 not equipped with a flash or autofocus, the Nokia X3-02 still has a fairly high resolution camera is 5 megapixels. But the performance of the X3-02 Nokia camera masi impressed mediocre. Results color of the pictures taken was mediocre, although sometimes inconsistent. The contrast in the image was dull and low, especially if taken in the room. But if you take pictures outdoors and with good lighting, you will get the maximum capability of the camera Nokia X3-02.

Music player on nokia x3-02 is very good because based on the playlists, artists, albums, and genres. Impressed with the music player interface is simple yet makes us comfortable in using it. The quality of the loudspeaker is very good, even at high volume loudspeaker does not result in a broken voice. Headset owned Nokia X3-02 also produces a good sound. Nokia X3-02 is a music phone with good quality.

Nokia X3-02 using a quad-band GSM and quad-band UMTS with 3G capabilities. Nokia X3-02 is also equipped with Wi-Fi for connectivity with the router and Bluetooth 2.1 for connectivity with wireless devices and micro usb. You can play music or many free game for nokia x3-02, and you can add many free ringtone x3-02 or many free theme for nokia x3-02

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NewerTech Pad Protector for iPad Review

Ten months into the iPad Era, we have a pretty good idea of what we want in a case: tilted typing mode, highly angled video mode, and secure coverage of the screen during transport. The venerable memory and Mac upgrade maker Newer Technology has entered the market with their Pad Protector, and it easily checks through these basics. What does it add and what things keep it from being the ultimate case for your iPad? Let’s take a closer look.

At first glance, this is a beautiful, well-made leather case, with top-stitching in the same color as the case. (It’s available in black or red. I was sent the black version.) While it follows closely to the Apple case, there are departures. First, there are magnets that seal the cover closed ever so lightly. Not a firm latch, but enough that you have to give it a good little tug to get it open. There are also small magnets holding the tab on the back closed. This tab, like the one on the back of the Apple case, holds the case into a wedge that can be used for typing at a low angle, or watching video at a high angle. The Newer Tech case has an extra hinge on the front, which provides a bit flatter side when in video orientation, but also makes it less stable in typing mode.

Magnetically secure. Notice the case is being opened on the left.
Another difference in the Newer Tech case is the iPad holding frame. On many cases, the iPad is inserted from the long hinge edge, which prevents the device from sliding out when the cover is closed. Some of these cases also incorporate a tab of some sort to hold it in place as well. The Newer Tech case has, instead, an open side at the “top” of the case, leaving the entire device free to slide out without disturbing the magnetic latch. After having my iPad slip out over halfway twice in as many days of use, I took it off and went back to a more secure case.
The open top slot is the Achilles Heel of this otherwise great case.

The open top slot is the Achilles Heel of this otherwise great case.
With leather cases, the case is as tight as it’s going to ever be on the first day of use. If it’s sliding out of the case while it’s under your arm on day one, that spells trouble to me. It’s a lovely case, and may weather well, but with this fatal flaw, I’m not willing to risk the safety of my iPad to test it further.
Included in the package is also a screen protector. While I’m not a fan of putting one on my iPad, some folks think this is a good idea. I tried showing what the clear screen protector would look like with some photos, and could see the difference, but I’m not sure you’d notice if the whole screen was covered. There is a color difference, from what I can see.


Protector covers the left half of this screen. Click photo for larger view.
I give the case one star. It’s well-made of quality materials, and very attractively priced at $25, but the design is flawed sufficiently to prevent me from recommending it to anyone. Add a strap to secure the iPad in the case, or move the insertion point inside the fold of the case, and you’ll have a solid four- or five-star case, but as it stands, this is a no-go.

source: www.the-gadgeteer.com

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Archos goes cheaper with Arnova 8 and Arnova 10 tablets

Arnova 8 and Arnova 10 are the two economic tablets from made by the famous tablet manufacturer from France called Archos. The media was so full of iPad 2 rumors and updates in a way that such tablets are not meant to be big hits, but these they are coming with some different purpose. The Arnova Android tablets target those types of consumers who does not want too many things from their tablets and want them to be affordable. The Arnova tablets do not come with an eye catching design or amazing specs, but they come with a give-it-a-try price tag and this should attract a specific category of consumers.

The two models called Arnova 8 and Arnova 10 are named after their screen sizes. So the Arnova 8 comes with an 8-inch screen and the Arnova 10 comes with a 10.1-inch screen. Archos is already famous for its cheaper tablets especially Archos 70 and 100 which took the attention of the media. For start, they have even omitted the capacitive touch screen at the first batch of production though they are promising that the next batch of production, scheduled to hit the market on April, will come with capacitive touch screen displays.

The Archos Arnova 8 will come with the 8-inch resistive touchscreen at first. This tablet will also feature a 600MHz Rockchip RK2818 processor capable of doing all your simple works like watching videos, reading eBooks and magazines, listening to music and of course Internet browsing and will feature 802.11b/g Wi-Fi. Unlike the current trend, the Archos 8 will not come with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Rather they have gone for a traditional outdated 4:3 aspect ratio and this ratio may not be good for the wide-screen movies, but if your main intention is reading eBooks and browsing the web the aspect ratio in this screen, this will be a bless. Arnova 8 model will come with a 4GB memory and the Android version is a little outdated also: it comes with the 2.1 version of Android, called Éclair.

The Archos Arnova 10 as said before will come with a 10.1-inch resistive touchscreen and the capacitive touchscreen version will be released in April. This bigger version of Arnova does not have many differences compared to the smaller version except the bigger 8GB storage. The bigger Arnova will also feature the same processor as the Arnova 8, the Rockchip one and also feature 802.11b/g Wi-Fi. This one will also come with the Android 2.1 Éclair and no update is promised or hinted from Archos on the future for now.

The April capacitive update of the Arnova devices will also bring another improvement and is expected that Arnova devices will come with an ARM Cortex-A8 processor. Let’s hope in April Archos devices will support an Android update because this might bring even Honeycomb running on these devices.  This is because Google did not made any Honeycomb minimum requirements announcement and they let the possibility that Honeycomb update will be possible even on low end devices.

When Archos 8 will be available it is expected to cost $150 while Archos 10 will cost $200. If you want something slightly better you should not hurry and wait for the April release of this devices because this will bring some improvements and the cost might be changed.

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Intel Core VPro Processor Will Protect Your Data

New second generation Processors from Intel Core VPro includes a mobile systems with the Series Core i3, Core i5 And Core i7. They are based on a new microarchitecture Sandy Bridge (32 nm), but unlike the models mainstream the new technology offers several innovative solutions to guarantee for greater security options.

First, Intel has integrated its protective solutions to AT 3.0 (Intel Anti-Theft.) This technology allows for remote deactivation of theft laptop by using inter alia, SMS. In addition with this technology a lost or stolen computer can also be traced with the help of GPS geo location. In both cases vPro Core system is integrated with modems which work on 3G.

Secondly, another great feature of the technology is that it is equipped with vPro Intel® Identity Protection Technology (IPT).  Which will help you to protects your computer or laptop in many ways in the case of theft. And keeps your sensitive data always protected for example you have stored passwords and logins to allow access to banking services and for corporate networks. In details to the normal procedure of usual logging system, IPT, it verifies the connection generating with the new six-digit password after every 30 seconds. Such a hardware protection prevents a hacker intercept call even if it is in possession of data which is necessary to verify in the services. IPT works with major technology brands in the field of security named as Symantec and VASCO.

The first vPro Core Second Generation, will soon be available for business notebooks, tablet PCs, and All-in-One computers which uses the main Intel partners.Also there will be choices for the other famous companies like Dell, Fujitsu, HP and Lenovo to capture this technology as the main core of their innovative systems.

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iPad 2 vs Motorola Xoom

Which of these tablets is set to rule the world? Will 2011 really be “the year of the iPad 2” as Steve Jobs claims, or does the Xoom have a say in the matter?

BUILD
iPad 2: The first iPad was glorious to hold, and the second is even better. Thinner by a third and lighter, it remains reassuringly solid in your mitt. The protective Smart Case, fixed on with magnets, is also a deft design touch.
Xoom: The Xoom feels as sturdy as the iPad 2, but is a little bit heavier at 730g to the iPad 2’s 601g (613g for the 3G-equipped version).

LOOKS
iPad 2: The iPad 2’s skinniness and tapered edges make it even easier on the eye than its predecessor. We’re still not sure about the white version, mind you…
Xoom: The Xoom’s styling is more functional than inspired. There’s nothing “wrong” with it, but it won’t get your heart racing.

POWER
iPad 2: Apple has upgraded to a dual-core ARM A5 chip, which it claims doubles the speed of the iPad 2 and increases its graphical processor power by up to 9 times. Despite this, the battery life is still the same: up to 10 hours.
Xoom: There’s a dual-core chip here too: an NVIDIA Tegra 2. We reckon the Xoom will have a similar amount of power to the iPad 2, and Motorola has the same claims regarding battery life. Call this one a draw for now.

SCREEN
iPad 2: We were hoping for more pixels, but Apple has stuck with the same 9.7-inch 1024 x 768 display as the first iPad.
Xoom: At 10.1 inches and with a resolution of 1280 x 800, the Xoom trumps the iPad 2 in the screen stakes. Of course, there’s more to a tablet screen than its sharpness and size…

APPS
iPad 2: With the might of the App Store behind it, the iPad 2 is never going to be short of top notch software. The new Garage Band and iMovie apps are mightily impressive.
Xoom: Android Market is fine for phone apps, but can’t match the App Store when it comes to tablet-tailored software. Not yet, at least – Apple has had a huge head start in this area.

CAMERA
iPad 2: Apple is keeping schtum on the megapixel count, but the iPad 2 would appear to have a VGA camera on the front and the same 720p-capable camera as the iPod touch on the back.
Xoom: The Xoom also has a VGA up front, but boasts a proper 5MP snapper on the back. Chalk this round up to Moto.

OS
iPad 2: iOS on the iPad is buttery smooth and so easy to get your head around, although there’s always room from improvement.
Xoom: We haven’t played with Honeycomb enough to pass a definitive verdict on this, but one thing’s for certain: it’s a lot better than the brutalised phone software used on existing Android tablets.

CONNECTIONS
iPad 2: The iPad 2 offers the same connectivity as its predecessor: a 3.5mm headphone jack and a dock connector port – but this time there’s an HDMI adapter available, letting you output whatever’s on the screen to your telly. On the wireless front, there’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, with 3G available on selected models.
Xoom: The Xoom has a micro USB port, mini-HDMI, headphone socket and micro SD card slot – although the latter is not enabled by default and will require a software update for use. It also has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, with a 3G model available. In the US, it’ll become 4G compatible in the near future.

VERDICT
It’s close, but we’ll have to give this one to the iPad 2. It looks likely to cost around the same as the Xoom, is better to hold and look at and iOS is currently the best tablet software around. But in a year, who knows?

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iPad 2 Review and Price

The Apple iPad 2 is no longer rumour and speculation – it’s real, along with a much healthier Steve Jobs (who presented the second-gen Apple tablet). Here’s what you can expect:

International release: 25 March
Cost: US$499 (Dhs1,800 in UAE-speak, but they’ll probably charge us more)

Specs:
A5 dual-core chips: two times faster CPU and nine times faster graphics
Same power consumption as A4 with same 10-hour battery life
Rear and front cameras
Sadly, the 9.7-inch screen remains at 1024×768
Gyroscope
33 percent thinner: 13.4mm–8.8mm, making it thinner than the iPhone 4
Lighter: 1.5lbs-1.3lbs
White version available
16GB, 32Gb and 64GB
WiFi or 3G

A new type of case called Smart Covers will be available. They are ribbed to fold in multiple directions and magnetically attach to your iPad. They also wake the iPad when you open it and send it to sleep when you close it. Apple’s usual rainbow of colours are available.

iOS 4.3 (free download from 11 March):
Better Safari that runs twice as fast,
Wireless streaming through iTunes Home sharing,
AirPlay improvements to help find your Apple TV with no configuration needed,
PhotoBooth software for the cameras,
FaceTime between most iOS devices (iPhone, Mac, iPad),

New apps:
iMovie for iPad, available 11 March for US$4.99. It utilises multi-touch gestures effectively and allows social sharing with a host of mediums including Facebook, YouTube and Vimeo.
Garageband which utilises 250+ loops, features a great analogue look and tonnes of touch-sensitive instruments that react to the pressure at which they are touched – so a piano or drum kit can be played loud or soft like the real thing.

While the international release date is March 25 – don’t expect it in the UAE or the rest of the Middle East anytime soon. Officially, that is. The UAE has yet to see an official launch of the original iPad – let along this thinner, fancier new model. (Scratch that, the original iPad launched at the end of January – thanks to everyone for the correction).

Still, we do have a thriving grey market, so you can expect to see them pop up in your local tech store, online souq, or Bur Dubai hole in the wall pretty soon after it launches elsewhere.

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Solar Powered iPhone? Yes Please

So, I take my cell phone with me no matter where I go. I consider it a luxury, but I also like to think that I would have it with me in the case of an emergency, like when my brand new car broke down this morning, and I was stuck on the side of the highway. Oh I had my phone alright, but the battery was dead, and the charger was in my other (and I guess, better) car.

Well that wont ever happen to any of us again if Apple has it’s way. According to U.S. patent reports, Apple wants to be able to incorporate solar cells into some of their touch screen products. Can anyone say iPhone 5? Okay, can anyone say iPhone 6 then? Anyway, let’s imagine if you will, the premise of throwing your phone up on the dashboard and having it be ready to go anytime you need it. Awesome.

The Cupertino giants have a better idea for solar-charging than just sticking a whole bunch of ugly solar panels on the back of their iDevices, the plan seems to be to put energy collecting cells hidden underneath the ever popular touchscreen display. So the hope would be that the iPhone won’t look much different, but would be able to charge itself cord-free!

It’s not that solar powered cell phones haven’t been lurking around for a while. In fact, a couple of companies have already waved around some prototypes of solar powered phones quite a while ago, but they’re not here yet, and when a company like Apple starts talking solar, I say let the sun shine in. Of course I don’t know what you say when it rains, but I’ll let them figure that out too.

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