Monthly Archives: May 2015

One Mini 3

HTC confirms there will be no One Mini 3

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If you’re attracted to HTC’s new flagship smartphone, the One M9, but were holding out for a model featuring a slightly smaller screen, it’s time to let go of that hope. Head of HTC’s North Asia division, Jack Tong, has stated that they will not be continuing the One Mini line of phones, instead maintaining focus on devices with 5-inch screens and larger. Tong made the comment at the Taiwan launch of the One M9+, adding that the smartphone market as a whole is moving away from smaller screen phones.

The One Mini line began in July 2013, with May 2014 seeing the next, and final, model, the One Mini 2. Each device was essentially a shrunken version of the One M7 and One M8, respectively, maintaining the premium feel of the metallic hardware, but reducing the screen by about half an inch in both cases.
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https://www.slashgear.com/htc-confirms-there-will-be-no-one-mini-3-18383977/

Lumix G7

Panasonic reveals Lumix G7 with focus on 4K video and photos

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Panasonic has just announced the latest in its lineup of Micro Four Thirds DSLRs, the Lumix G7. At its base, the G7 is a mid-range shooter with a 16-megapixel sensor, an ISO of up to 25,600, a top shutter speed of 1/16,000, with a touchscreen on the back that tilts and swivels. But what really makes the camera stand out is a renewed focus on 4K, both in capturing video and photos.

For video, the G7 is able to capture at 24 and 30 fps, at a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 (QFHD). There’s also the option for 1080p at 60 fps. But what’s new for this model is the 4K Photo mode that was introduced in all of Panasonic’s 2014 cameras. This allows you to capture high-resolution images from video shot in 30 fps, which are then saved as 8-megapixel stills. With this are three new settings that modify the way the video starts/stops being recording according to shutter presses: 4K Burst Shooting, 4K Burst Start/Stop, and 4K Pre-burst.

 

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https://www.slashgear.com/panasonic-reveals-lumix-g7-with-focus-on-4k-video-and-photos-18384057/

HTC One V Review

HTC One V Review

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While the HTC One X and One S are hogging the limelight with their mix of raw performance and excellent build quality, there’s One more phone in the series that we need to turn our attention to. The HTC One V won’t impress anybody with its spec sheet, but part of HTC’s 2012 strategy is a renewed focus on not just the mid- and high-end of the market, but also the initial point of entry, the affordable smartphone. That doesn’t mean HTC has neglected the software: Ice Cream Sandwich and Sense 4.0 are on this budget offering just like the big brothers. Does the HTC One V strike a balance between hardware, software, and affordability? Let’s find out.

Hardware

HTC One V video review:

[su_youtube url=”https://youtu.be/MrdZEYa_Jog”]

In a refreshing change of pace, HTC has decided to grace us with a smaller handset as opposed to the behemoths we’re so used to seeing. The company hasn’t neglected build quality either, with the One V bearing a unibody aluminium chassis, along with a rubberized texture surrounding the camera lens and on the bottom cover. The feel is, in a word, excellent. Not only that, but the size plays an important role, and the 3.7-inch handset fits snugly in the palm of your hand. It’s not too big, and it’s not too small: it’s just right.
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https://www.slashgear.com/htc-one-v-review-16223042/

T-Mobile HTC One S Review

T-Mobile HTC One S Review

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HTC’s new One Series got off to a good start, and now the company has to do the same in the US. We’ve already reviewed the One S comprehensively in European form, back when the smartphone first wenton sale. T-Mobile USA’s version brings much the same to the table, only with support for the carrier’s HSPA+ bands. Read on to find out whether this is the One phone you should be buying.

Beyond the radio changes, and some different software preloads, HTC is offering the same device in Europe and North America. That means the same 4.3-inch qHD 540 x 960 AMOLED display, same 8-megapixel main camera with a backside-illuminated sensor and Full HD video recording, and the same Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich complete with HTC’s own Sense customizations.

T-Mobile HTC One S Unboxing and Hands-on

Coming from the Galaxy Note, which has – along with an iPhone – become my daily device, the 4.3-inch One S feels a little on the small side. Still, if you’re not spoiled by the 5.3-inch Samsung then the HTC might not feel so pokey. Pixels rather than inches are the key shortage: a 720p display running at 1280 x 800 would’ve made for a smoother, more detailed display than the qHD HTC opted for, though there’s no denying the warmth and brightness AMOLED technology delivers.
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https://www.slashgear.com/t-mobile-htc-one-s-review-18223460/

HTC One X Review (AT&T)

HTC One X Review (AT&T)

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AT&T hasn’t wasted any time getting HTC’s new flagship, the One X, onto its network, though the US version of the smartphone has seen a few changes along the way. We’ve already comprehensivelyreviewed the One X in European, quadcore form, running NVIDIA’s Tegra 3, but the AT&T model borrows the dualcore Qualcomm S4 from its smaller One S sibling and pairs it with LTE connectivity. Could this be the best variant of HTC’s 2012 line-up so far? Read on for the SlashGear review.

Hardware

The majority of the AT&T One X is just as we’ve seen before: a 4.7-inch 720p HD Super LCD display, squeezed into a carved polycarbonate casing, and accompanied by an 8-megapixel camera. Rather than retread old ground, we’ll point you to our original review for our glowing impressions of the One X’s photographic skills, Beats Audio, and other core abilities.

We may have seen the design before, but the One X is definitely a grower. There’s something about the sturdiness of the casing and the curve as the screen glass reaches the bowed side-profile that feels great in the hand, and while it may be plastic rather than glass, the matte finish keeps things feeling premium.
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https://www.slashgear.com/htc-one-x-review-att-01225390/

LG 3D Max first-impressions

LG 3D Max first-impressions

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LG has persisted with mobile 3D, and the LG Optimus 3D Max is the company’s latest attempt to persuade us that glasses-free 3D is something we want on the move. A 4.3-inch Android smartphone with a dual-camera array, the Optimus 3D Max promises to smooth off some of the rough edges of its Optimus 3D predecessor. Read on for our first impressions.

It’s certainly a more pocketable handset. LG has hacked away at some of the bulk, removing the camera bulge on the back which made the original feel so clumsy, and leaving the profile more like that of Samsung’s Galaxy S II. Up front, meanwhile, is a new NOVA display, which uses the company’s brighter LCD technology. Unfortunately, it’s still only running at WVGA resolution, when qHD and 720p HD are commonplace among high-end phones.

LG 3D Max Unboxing and hands-on

Inside it’s a case of a solid chipset – TI’s 1.2GHz OMAP4430 dual-core – running an old OS, namely Android 2.3 Gingerbread. LG adds its own 3D UI, as well, which offers a little entertainment with the glasses-free 3D display, though we’re not sure it’s of lasting worth. Still, it makes framing 3D videos and photos more straightforward, and you can output them both via MHL-HDMI to a compatible 3D TV.
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https://www.slashgear.com/lg-3d-max-first-impressions-08226856/

HTC EVO 4G LTE Review

HTC EVO 4G LTE Review

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As HTC ushers in their next generation of smartphones with their hero series of HTC One devices, so too does the impact spread to their other hard-hitting brand lines like what we’re seeing here in theHTC EVO 4G LTE. What we’ve seen of this device thus far is that it’s not just similar to the HTC One series we’ve seen so far, it’s basically the same in very many respects – right down to the HTC ImageSense chip for the camera. Where before we’d assumed that this chip and many other features in the HTC One series were the bits that made the series special, the HTC EVO 4G LTE makes it clear that HTC is perfectly willing to spread the love to the rest of their brand lines.

Hardware

The device you’re looking at right now is essentially as thin as the HTC One S with as large a display as the HTC One X, and is extremely flat compared to the whole HTC One series thus far. This device feels much nicer and more powerfully built than any HTC EVO in the past and indeed does take on a lot of what HTC has promised for the whole HTC One series. The back panels include one with micro-arc oxidation like the HTC One S has and one that’s hard plastic, these separated by a hardcore kickstand that’s as strong as any we’ve seen on ANY device before – and no HTC One device has one (yet!)
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https://www.slashgear.com/htc-evo-4g-lte-review-11227839/

JCB Toughphone Pro-Smart Review

JCB Toughphone Pro-Smart Review

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Smashed screens, cracked casings and broken buttons: you can take out endless insurance policies on your smartphone, or you can opt for a tougher handset altogether. JCB knows a little about sturdy hardware, and the Toughphone Pro-Smart TP909 certainly looks the part even when it’s in the box. Oversized but still surprisingly affordable, it’s the first of JCB’s butch line-up to run a smartphone OS, in this case Android. Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.

Hardware

The Toughphone is relatively cheap for an Android smartphone, and with a chunk of the budget going on ruggedization, it comes as little surprise that the core specifications are humble. An 800MHz, single-core processor, 3.2-inch HVGA capacitive touchscreen and mere 256MB of ROM make for a distinctly sub-average device. Outdoors, the display is reasonably clear though you need to shade it with a hand in direct sunlight.
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https://www.slashgear.com/jcb-toughphone-pro-smart-review-21229122/

Sony Xperia U Review

Sony Xperia U Review

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Sony pushed the Xperia S out of the door back in March, but the Xperia P and Xperia U have lagged behind a little in making it to market. Both of those devices are finally with us, and just like HTC, Sony seems to be banking on three phones hitting different price brackets to try and jump start its smartphone career. The Xperia U may be the cheapest in the NXT line, but it does have some solid specs: a dual-core 1Ghz processor, 854×480 3.5-inch screen, and five megapixel camera. How does it hold up? Find out after the jump.

Hardware

The Xperia U is identical in design to the Xperia P and Xperia S, and it would be accurate to say that the U is essentially a mini version of the S. The soft touch plastic makes a return here, unlike the aluminum Xperia P, as does the monolithic chassis with a strange mix of curves and sharp angles. It’s an intriguing design, and the clear strip at the bottom device, which houses the antenna, certainly helps it to stand out. The strip also lights for certain notifications and alerts, and can be changed to display different colors depending on your mood.

The 3.5-inch body fits snugly into your hand, although the front angles of the screen might dig into the palm depending on your particular grip. The soft touch plastic feels nice too: granted, it doesn’t feel as good as an aluminum or glass construction, but it’s much better than the glossy plastic that plague a lot of phones at this end of the market. It’s thicker than rivals at 12mm, but the curve of the back gives the illusion of a thinner device, and it really isn’t an issue in day to day use.

[su_youtube url=”https://youtu.be/1VPSAA40vkA”]
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https://www.slashgear.com/sony-xperia-u-review-24229783/
Huawei Ascend P1

Huawei Ascend P1 Review

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Today on the SlashGear test bench is the new Huawei Ascend P1 Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich smartphone. It was first unveiled at CES and we’ve been waiting for it ever since. As of late Huawei has been making some huge strides with their hardware to better compete with HTC and the Samsung’s in the world, and this phone is a solid attempt. Being one of their best handsets to date can it match up? Check out the rest of the review to find out.

Hardware

Huawei has jumped right into the limelight recently by offering some good quality hardware, and specs that can compete with the big boys. The Ascend P1 is no different although isn’t quite as thin as its P1 S cousin that takes the crown for the “world’s thinnest smartphone.” To start on the hardware look over our hands-on here, then we’ll dive into the rest.

Huawei’s equipped this new phone with a large and vibrant 4.3-inch qHD 540×960 AMOLED display, a 1.5 GHz dual-core TI OMAP4460 processor, 1GB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage. The initial specs don’t match that of the Galaxy S III or the HTC One X, but it comes to market with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and an impressive hardware design to keep the others at bay.
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https://www.slashgear.com/huawei-ascend-p1-review-25229395/

samsung galaxy player 4.2

Samsung Galaxy Player 4.2 Review

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The expansion of the Samsung realm of wi-fi-only smart devices continues with the Galaxy Player 4.2, complete with two front-facing speakers, Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and a lovely display. This device is essentially a Galaxy S II at half-power and without a mobile connection – but keeping all the media-playing powers of a device deeply integrated in the extended Samsung family of Smart TVs, apps, and speakers galore. Here we’ll take a look at how it feels once again to work with the Samsung mobile media player, here in its most ideal shape and form yet.

Hardware

Unlike its slightly more massive cousin which you can see in ourSamsung Galaxy Player 5.0 Review, this device is extremely thin and certainly one of the lightest smart devices on the market today. The only lighter device we’ve seen along these same lines is one you can see in our Samsung Galaxy Player 3.6 Review – a tiny device, to be sure. This 4.2-inch relative of those Galaxy Players has many of the same specifications but here may well have the most ideal combination of palm-fitting form factor and media playing prowess.

Here you’ll find a device with Android 2.3 Gingerbread – certainly not the most advanced software available from Google or Samsung for that matter, but enhanced in several ways that make it equitable in a few choice ways. You’ll be able to see all of the applications you’ve got open at once by holding down the physical center button on the front of the phone. Access Google search by holding down the menu button. Turn the entire device on, the display off, and adjust the volume from the right side of the device, this handset having both its power and volume buttons sitting right under your thumb – if you’re right-handed, that is.
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https://www.slashgear.com/samsung-galaxy-player-4-2-review-28230402/

Samsung Galaxy S III Review [AT&T & T-Mobile]

Samsung Galaxy S III Review [AT&T & T-Mobile]

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Is the Samsung Galaxy S III the most anticipated Android smartphone in the US this year? Given the reaction to the 4.8-inch flagship’s announcement – not to mention the pre-launch rumor and hype – and the subsequent furore around the European model, it’s hard not to reach that conclusion. Set to launch on five US carriers near-simultaneously, the Galaxy S III has arrived in AT&T and T-Mobile form on the SlashGear testbench, hoping to convince us again with their 4G and potent processors. We’ve already reviewed – and loved – the European version of the Galaxy S III that went on sale earlier this month; read on to find out if the US phones can live up to expectations.

Hardware

We’ve already comprehensively reviewed the Galaxy S III, and the bulk of the phone is unchanged from the original European model. We’d recommend getting up to speed on that review since most of it will be applicable to the AT&T and T-Mobile versions.

Unlike the half-dozen different designs for the Galaxy S II-based smartphones launched across the US, Samsung has used the Galaxy S III’s bound-to-be-a-bestseller status to force a more consistent aesthetic. The AT&T and T-Mobile USA variants each look pretty much identical outwardly to the European handset, with the same physical home button flanked by touch-sensitive menu and back keys.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The front is dominated by the 4.8-inch 1280 x 720 Super AMOLED HD touchscreen, larger than the 4.3- and 4.5-inch screens of the last-gen handset, making for more room to browse, watch video and navigate Google Maps. It also makes for a phone, which nudges the limits of what many people are comfortable carrying and using. The Galaxy Note has its hybrid “phablet” status to justify its 5.3-inch panel, but the Galaxy S III is resolutely a phone, and those with smaller hands may well struggle to reach the edges of the display when holding it single-handed.
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https://www.slashgear.com/samsung-galaxy-s-iii-review-att-t-mobile-19234754/

Nokia 808 PureView Review

Nokia 808 PureView Review

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Excitement, about a Symbian phone? The Nokia 808 PureView has forced many to reconsider their platform loyalties by virtue of its big number boast: 41-megapixels of camera goodness. The surprise stand-out of Mobile World Congress, the 808 PureView is the first public evidence of a five year labor of love inspired by ultra-high-resolution satellite photography. There’s compromise galore involved, however, to join the early PureView train, so is it worth it? Read on for the full SlashGear review.

Hardware

Miniaturization can only get you so far: if you want 41-megapixels – and Nokia really does – then you have to accept some heft with it. As a result the 808 PureView is a chunky phone, measuring in at 123.9 x 60.2 x 13.9 mm and 169 grams, though it’s biased toward the lens section with its oversized sensor. In the hand, though, it’s actually quite a pleasant thing to hold: the textured plastic back cover feels high-quality and sturdy, and your forefinger butts naturally against the curve of the camera hump.

That’s not to say you don’t notice it when it’s in your pocket. In contrast to the slimline devices we’ve grown used to, the 808 PureView makes for a considerable bulge; we could fit it into a jeans pocket, front or back, but it wasn’t the most comfortable we’ve ever been.
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https://www.slashgear.com/nokia-808-pureview-review-26235660/

Orange San Diego Review

Orange San Diego Review

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It’s taken a long time for Intel’s smartphone plans to come to fruition. The company has demoed its processors in mobile devices at several CES events in the past, but has struggled to bring them to market. This year, however, Intel came prepared, announcing a partnership with several manufacturers and carriers that would see Intel’s Medfield platform finally making its way into consumers hands. The first phone was the Lava Xolo X900, released in India in May, while the United Kingdom has been graced with the Orange San Diego, previously known as the Santa Clara. So, how does the pairing of Intel and Android hold up? Find out after the jump.

Hardware

The San Diego won’t be winning any awards in the design department. It’s about as generic a design as you can get, and if you look back at hands-on from CES 2012 you’ll actually see that it’s a similar design (if not the same) as the reference phone shown off to the press and developers. It’s the same black monolithic design you’ve seen a thousand times before, just with ports and buttons located in different places.

[su_youtube url=”https://youtu.be/un-lzczdGnM”]
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https://www.slashgear.com/orange-san-diego-review-04237092/
DROID Incredible 4G LTE Review

DROID Incredible 4G LTE Review

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This week we’ve gotten the chance to take a peek at the next in a line of rather popular conservatively sized powerhouses from HTC, this time called the DROID Incredible 4G LTE. We’ve had a look at the Incredible 2 as well as the original DROID Incredible, now it’s time to decide if this HTC One-era device is up to the task of bringing the DROID brand name back up to snuff. As Verizon has no other HTC One device, with T-Mobile and AT&T getting the prizes this time around from that manufacturer, it might be high time Big Red gets its own taste of the Sense (4.0, as seen in this hands-on with the HTC One S) we’ve been using for weeks.

Hardware

Though this device is being released at the same time as the HTC One series is on the market and does indeed use essentially the same software as those devices do, it’s the HTC Rezound that matches this device’s hardware best. Have a peek at our full review of the HTC Rezound to see what I mean. Compared to the HTC One series, you’ll think these devices were born of different mothers:

The Incredible 4G LTE has a 4-inch super LCD qHD display which gets brighter than you could possibly need it to be, that also being 275ppi dense – not quite as good as the Galaxy S III at 306ppi or the One X at 312ppi, but beating out the 256ppi of the One S by just a tiny notch.
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https://www.slashgear.com/droid-incredible-4g-lte-review-05237192/

Motorola Atrix HD Review

Motorola Atrix HD Review

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It’s time to get a bit of an upgrade in the world of the Atrix brand, this time with the Atrix HD, with Motorola bumping up the line with a next-generation processor, one of the most HD displays on earth, and a sleek new look. The front of the device has a lovely curved-edged pane of reinforced Gorilla Glass, the sides are white and black hard plastic, and the back is no less than a DuPont Kevlar fiber. The whole device has a splash-guard coating, inside you’ve got Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and Motorola’s cool new user interface that’s full of color.

Hardware

This device is as light as a 2012 top-tier device should be, is approximately the same size as the Samsung Galaxy S III in its casing, and is just as thin through most of its body as that device as well. The head of the Atrix HD is a bit thicker, just as the DROID RAZR was, and contains an 8 megapixel camera with single LED flash and 1080p video capability as well – and the media it produces with that camera is much more excellent than the RAZR’s results ever were.

Up on the side you’ve got a door that opens to microSD and microSIM card slots where you’ll put your AT&T 4G LTE card, you’ll find two silver metal buttons up on the right side for power and volume, and up top you’ve got Motorola’s microUSB/microHDMI port combo ready for use with a collection of Motorola-made accessories. These accessories are essentially the same as we saw back when we reviewed the RAZR, as you can see over on Android Community in-depth, and you can use this device with the most recent Motorola Lapdocks as well.
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https://www.slashgear.com/motorola-atrix-hd-review-16238724/

T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note Review

T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note Review

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This week we’ve got our hands on the Samsung Galaxy Note as carried by T-Mobile in the USA – and with it we’ve got another home-run for the unique device team. Samsung took the time to create something unique in the Galaxy Note when it was first revealed for an international audience, and now the T-Mobile user base has the opportunity to use it on their favorite carrier. Is that the beginning and the end of it? Let’s have a peek!

Hardware

You’ve got a massive 5.3-inch screen here with 800 x 1280 pixel resolution (285 pixels per inch) across its face. Without a doubt, this is the largest smartphone you’ll ever have come across – as it is the largest smartphone on the market. Samsung would have you believe that this is not a smartphone, but a unique device that’s not a smartphone and not a tablet – but when it comes down to it, it’s completely up to you on how you define it.

The size of this device along with the width of it makes it so using the S-Pen docked within it is almost a necessity, but not quite. You’ve got a hearty collection of abilities with the device’s pen, many of which you’ll see with the Premium Suite upgrade that comes standard with this device (right out of the box.) Have a peek in the software section below to get a better handle at what the pen can do for you.

This Galaxy Note has a removable back panel so you’ve got access to your sim card as well as your microSD card, and your battery is removable, and therefor replaceable, as well. The exterior of the device is plastic on the back and around the rim while the front is one giant smooth flat reinforced glass panel. While the international edition of this device has a single physical home button, this version, as it is with the AT&T version, has a set of four capacitive buttons which work with both taps and long-presses to bring on your Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich upgrades such as multi-tasking with recent app selections.
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https://www.slashgear.com/t-mobile-samsung-galaxy-note-review-30240710/

T-Mobile myTouch and myTouch Q Review

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This week we’ve gotten our hands on the next generation of myTouch devices for T-Mobile, one with a push-out QWERTY keyboard, the other without. Both of these devices are essentially identical save for the slight difference in hardware with the keyboard, otherwise they’ve both got a 4-inch display at 480 x 800 pixel resolution, a 5 megapixel camera on their backs with a single LED flash, and they’ve got single-core 1.4GHz processor inside as well. With a keyboard you’ve got the myTouch Q, and without a keyboard you’ve got the myTouch, and both of these devices are manufactured by Huawei.

Hardware

These devices are relatively heavy for their size at 6.52 oz (185 g) (for the Q) and 4.94 oz (140 g). They’re a nice size for the palm and do have a nice styling to them since they’re basically the same set of shapes as the HTC versions of the myTouch line that came before them, including the HTC lip at the bottom of the display. They’re not made by HTC, on the other hand, they’re made by Huawei. Check out our myTouch 4G review from 2010, ourmyTouch 4G Slide review from 2011, and our T-Mobile myTouch 3G unboxing from back in 2009, each of them made by HTC.

You can see when you remove the back of these devices that you’ve got a Huawei battery (at 1500mAh) and room for a microSD card for an additional 32GB of storage space. You’re also using a full-sized SIM card and a the battery cover has a strange feel to it – almost like a very very fine sandpaper. You’ve got a dedicated physical camera button on the lower end of the right side of each of the phones, and your lockscreen can access the camera directly along with messages and your phone dialer.
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https://www.slashgear.com/t-mobile-mytouch-and-mytouch-q-review-01241251/

Samsung GALAXY Beam Review

Samsung GALAXY Beam Review

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If you’re looking for just about the strangest smartphone to have been released thus far this year, you’re looking right at it right here: the Samsung GALAXY Beam. This device is a relatively powerful smartphone on its own, but with it you get a built-in projector as well. You’ve got a 15 Lumen Texas Instruments DLP (Digital Light Processing) unit at the end of a smartphone that’s essentially the top of the line minus one year from the smartphone evolution timeline – is such a combination worth the effort?

Hardware

This device has a fairly standard 1GHz dual-core processor, a 4-inch WVGA (800 x 480 pixel) resolution TFT LCD display, and the ability to work with HSPA and EDGE/GPRS, with networks differing depending on the country you’re in. Inside the device you’ve got 8GB of built-in memory as well as a microSD card slot that accepts up to 32GB of extra storage in a single card.

On the back of the device you’ve got a 5 megapixel camera with single LED flash and on the front you’ve got a 1.3 megapixel camera. The entire device measures in at 124 x 64.2 x 12.5mm at 145g light. It’s not the smallest device on the market, but it’s certainly small and light considering its ability to tote a projector onboard.
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https://www.slashgear.com/samsung-galaxy-beam-review-09242088/

Motorola PHOTON Q 4G LTE Review

Motorola PHOTON Q 4G LTE Review

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This week we’ve had a look at the next slide-out QWERTY smartphone to hit the 4G LTE universe in the Motorola PHOTON Q. This device represents some of the best and the worst in the smartphone market today, starting with Motorola’s lovely take on a QWERTY keyboard, complete with light-up keys that feel rather nice to tap away on. The Sprint network, on the other hand, has been a letdown – both to the operating system and the hardware it’s working with.

Hardware

This device feels nice to use, the touchscreen works rather nicely, and the display is both bright and sharp. In the hands-on and unboxing video you’re about to see below this paragraph, you’ll notice that this device has Motorola moving into the no-button universe, relegating the physical buttons to the sides and the inside of the smartphone. The slider is a bit more loose than we’d like to see on a device that costs several hundred dollars right out of the gate, also.

[su_youtube url=”https://youtu.be/ZLBOm_tTsOE”]
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https://www.slashgear.com/motorola-photon-q-4g-lte-review-20243290/
DROID RAZR M Review

DROID RAZR M Review

Phones, , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

The DROID RAZR M was revealed at the event where Googler and relatively new CEO of Motorola Dennis Woodside spoke about the”new plan” for the company – a plan that’s starting right here. We got a brief DROID RAZR M hands-on experience at the event and found that it was a surprisingly powerful-feeling device for its status under the DROID RAZR HD devices sitting nearby. With its near-edge-to-edge 4.3-inch display, it’s tried-and-true fabulously powerful dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor under the hood, and a collection of protective elements throughout this device’s chassis that make it, again, an ideal phone for today’s mobile landscape – just as the original DROID RAZR should have been (and still is, for many happy users, to be fair).

Have a peek at some hands-on walkthrough time here with the DROID RAZR M and see if it and the review text (and photos) above and below answer every question you’ve got about the device. If you find yourself still sitting with quandaries at the end of the post, please feel free to post in the comments section. We’ll do our best to expand where necessary!

[su_youtube url=”https://youtu.be/dug68kVhdHA”]
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https://www.slashgear.com/droid-razr-m-review-09246553/
Axiotron ModBook Review

Axiotron ModBook Review

Tablets, , , , , , , ,

 

So, I’ve had this thing for a few hours short of a full day, and I’ve got some stuff to report, but I don’t want to call this the end of the review, I am going to give it a few more days and then give the final part of the review. So far, I am not sold on it, but, my sister, who is taking classes in college for photography and the various digital arts got her hands on it and wouldn’t let go until I took it away to charge it.

Due solely to the lack of a keyboard, and the fact that you have to use the digitizer pen for everything, I wouldn’t recommend for any every day business or office user. However, if you are in the visual arts, architecture, design, or any of the fields where you might use the features of this tablet, I honestly don’t think there is anything better for you out there.

That said, my sister loves it, and I don’t use Photoshop for anything other than resizing product pictures, so, it hasn’t been the best notebook for me, but the more and more I use it, the more and more I fall in love. The pen works great, the onscreen keyboard isn’t too hard to use, and the possibility of directly connecting either a USB or Bluetooth keyboard (thanks to the integrated Bluetooth) and the same with a mouse makes it great, because chances are, if you are in a spot where you can’t connect and easily use a keyboard and/or mouse, then you probably aren’t looking to type much in the first place.
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https://www.slashgear.com/axiotron-modbooks-get-cheaper-1263330/

Fujitsu-Siemens’ ultra-portable P1610

Fujitsu-Siemens’ ultra-portable P1610

Tablets, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

The ultraportable MacBook some were hoping for didn’t arrive at WWDC, so it seems a good time to look at options for the mobile user who prizes portability above all else. Fujitsu Siemens’ P1610, despite its age – it was announced in November last year – remains one of the most coveted mini notebooks; the size of a hardback book with a convertible touch-screen, I dropped one in my bag to see just how functional the 2.2lb device can be.

Fujitsu-Siemens P1610 - click for full-size

Road-warriors are well catered for when it comes to kitting out the P1610. On top of the basic Intel Core Solo low-voltage 1.2GHz processor there’s a choice of 512MB or 1GB of RAM, hard-drives from 30GB upward, standard a/b/g WiFi and optional Bluetooth, a HSDPA cellular upgrade and even a 32GB solid-state hard-drive. Sadly my review unit came without either of the latter two options, although the PCMCIA slot makes adding your own mobile broadband card a possibility.

P1610 PCMCIA slot

A single screen choice is available across the board, being an 8.9-inch WXGA touch-enabled panel using indoor/outdoor technology. It’s no hardship, being crisp and clear, although it requires greater pressure (either with your finger or the included stylus) than the Samsung Q1 UMPC’s screen. Some prefer that, but I found that maintaining the continuous pressure required to, say, drag and drop an icon or write in cursive ended up in a precarious balance between an interrupted movement and fearing damaging the screen through pressing too hard. Press-and-hold (which in a passive-screened Tablet replicates a right-click) met with dubious success, intermittently – and frustratingly – releasing prematurely. Nonetheless, after calibration general tapping and link-surfing was eminently possible with a fingertip, and the screen proved resilient to vectoring (where your hand touches the screen when writing and registers as a false touch).
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https://www.slashgear.com/slashgear-review-fujitsu-siemens-ultra-portable-p1610-135725/

HTC Shift CDMA EV-DO UMPC review

HTC Shift CDMA EV-DO UMPC review

Tablets, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

HTC have made a name for themselves with capable, business-friendly smartphones, and when back in March 2007 they first suggested they were turning their hand to the UMPC market there was no shortage of interest. Boasting full Windows Vista support, as well as a cut-down quick-start SnapVue interface for basic tasks, QWERTY keyboard, touchscreen and multiple wireless options, the HTC Shift was hailed by some as likely to be the first decent UMPC. The subsequent journey from announcement to actual launch – a point first estimated for Q3 2007 – has been punctuated by delays, wavering interest and more than a little criticism of how competitive its specs are in light of the latest competition; HTC sent over the new CDMA version of the Shift, complete with Sprint EV-DO support, for SlashGear to see whether time has been kind to the UMPC.

First impressions count for a lot when you’ve just spent $1,500 (unsubsidized) on a device, and HTC make a decent attempt of giving the Shift’s packaging a premium feel. Inside the metal-effect sleeve and matte cardboard box is the UMPC itself, a tri-fold leather case, tiny AC power brick in its own felt drawstring bag, wired hands-free kit with stereo earbuds, and a surprisingly chunky breakout box that adds three USB, a miniUSB and ethernet ports via the Shift’s single onboard USB. Somewhat strangely, the leather case is actually attached to the Shift by screws; perhaps HTC are trying to avoid too many broken screen repairs from those who might normally carry their gadgets in the raw.
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https://www.slashgear.com/htc-shift-cdma-ev-do-umpc-review-3010963/

Amazon Kindle DX Review

Amazon Kindle DX Review

Tablets, , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

Amazon’s Kindle DX was announced back at the beginning of May, but it’s taken until now for the first of the oversized ebook readers to reach buyers’ hands.  The Kindle DX begins shipping this week, promising more E Ink real estate, more memory, and more file-type support on top of the Kindle 2’s existing Whispernet wireless and other features.  Is bigger necessarily better?  SlashGear put on our reading glasses and set to finding out.

The differences between the Kindle 2 and the new Kindle DX are obvious: a 9.7-inch E Ink monochrome display dominates the front panel, offering around 2.5x the space of the smaller ebook reader and squashing the QWERTY keyboard into tic-tac tininess at the bottom.  Amazon has obviously worked hard to minimize the screen’s impact on the overall chassis, with mixed results.  It’s a scant 0.02-inches thicker than the Kindle 2, at 0.38-inches, with a metal back-plate lending stiffness, but the left-side page controls have been dropped.
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https://www.slashgear.com/amazon-kindle-dx-review-1146632/

Windows 10 seems to run faster than OS X on the new MacBook

Computers & IT,

MacBook-Hands-On-18

Love the new MacBook’s svelte design, but not a fan of OS X 10.10 Yosemite? There’s good news: According to a new test, Windows 10 apparently runs more smoothly on the new MacBook.

Alex King, a computer science student studying at Tufts University, spent a month with the new 12-inch MacBook and provided some insightful new details about running the beta version of Windows 10 on it.

SEE ALSO: 5 things Apple didn’t say about the new MacBook

King installed Windows 10 using Boot Camp, meaning his new MacBook boots natively into Windows 10, as opposed to being emulated in a virtual machine within OS X. Using virtual machine software like the popular Parallels usually requires more resources, and thus, performance is slower.

After tinkering with a few settings and drivers, he had Windows 10 up and running — and was immediately impressed. Here’s the TL;DR summary King posted on his blog:

It’s fast. It’s smooth. It renders at 60FPS unless you have a lot going on. It’s unequivocally better than performance on OS X, further leading me to believe that Apple really needs to overhaul how animations are done. Even when I turn Transparency off in OS X, Mission Control isn’t completely smooth. Here, even after some Aero Glass transparency has been added in, everything is smooth. It’s remarkable, and it makes me believe in the 12-inch MacBook more than ever before.

King also praised Microsoft Edge, Windows 10’s new web browser, for being “fast to render pages” and handling “a large number of tabs admirably.”

In addition to the regular daily usage testing, King also tested out 3D gaming on the new MacBook running Windows 10. While the Intel Core M processor and integrated graphics won’t run the newest games or even games at the highest settings, he was able to play Left 4 Dead 2 at 60 frames per second (fps) at a 1,280 x 800 resolution.

The new MacBook could even emulate old Nintendo GameCube games like Super Smash Bros. Melee at the 60 fps The new MacBook could even emulate old Nintendo GameCube games like Super Smash Bros. Melee at the 60 fps, too.

The most important takeaway from King’s testing isn’t the fact that Windows 10 runs really well on the new MacBook, but rather how the fanless Intel Core M processor bodes for future Windows 10 laptops.

If PC makers can optimize Windows 10 to run as well as it does on Apple hardware, we’ll be in for some lovely laptops quite soon.

(Mashable)

Lenovo X200 Tablet Review

Lenovo X200 Tablet Review

Tablets, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

There’s no doubting that multitouch is a key buzzword of today, and with the arrival of Windows 7 PCs gain at least software support for two-fingered control. Lenovo have responded by updating their well-esteemed ThinkPad X200 Tablet with Windows 7 and a new, multitouch-friendly display, the former as standard and the latter a paid option. Has the technology come of age, or is it a case of hype overtaking substance? Check out the SlashGear review after the cut.

Most elements of the new multitouch ThinkPad X200 Tablet remain the same as its predecessor. That means you get a 1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SU9400 processor, paired with 2GB of DDR3 RAM, a 160GB 5,400rpm hard-drive, WiFi b/g/n and Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics. The 12.1-inch LED-backlit display runs at WXGA 1,280 x 800, and is mounted on a sturdy central hinge that rotates 180-degrees and allows the screen to fold flat against the keyboard for slate-style use. As with most ThinkPads we’ve tested, the keyboard is a triumph of usability, though you’ll have to be satisfied with a trackpoint nub mouse as there’s no room for a trackpad.
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https://www.slashgear.com/lenovo-x200-tablet-review-3062260/

PsiXpda UMPC review

PsiXpda UMPC review

Tablets, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

Tablets are a fashionable topic right now – Apple are expected to announce their own model next week, and CES 2010 was positively dripping with touchscreens – but we’ve been hammering on about how useful a compact ultramobile device can be for years now. Before Christmas new UK startup PsiXpda dropped off their first offering, a compact UMPC with a slick, sliding/tilting form-factor, and asked us to give our honest opinion. At a shade under £500 ($820) the PsiXpda isn’t cheap, especially in a world of netbooks and “superphones”; check out how it does in the full SlashGear review after the cut.

psixpda_umpc_slashgear_review_5 psixpda_umpc_slashgear_review_11 psixpda_umpc_slashgear_review_18

The hardware specifications look a little underwhelming, until you remind yourself of the scale of the PsiXpda itself. An Intel Atom Z510 1.1GHz processor is paired with 1GB of RAM and a 4.8-inch 800 x 480 WVGA resistive touchscreen; storage is a 16GB SSD and connectivity includes WiFi b/g, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, two USB 2.0 ports (one of which is a mini USB) and optional 3G via a readily-accessed miniPCI card under a panel on the bottom. There’s also a microSD card slot (labeled TransFlash), a 2.5mm headphones/headset socket and a proprietary port for a docking station (that doesn’t currently seem to be available from PsiXpda).
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https://www.slashgear.com/psixpda-umpc-review-1970465/

Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3t Review

Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3t Review

Tablets, , , , , , ,

 

While Lenovo have long offered tablet PCs in their ThinkPad range, CES 2010 saw the surprising debut of several more consumer-focused touchscreen devices. The Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3t lacks the eye-catching removable display of its U1 sibling, but still promises the company’s legendary build quality along with the benefits of capacitive multitouch. Does the IdeaPad S10-3t tick all our tablet boxes? Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.

System Overview

Like other IdeaPad netbooks, the S10-3t eschews Lenovo’s blocky ThinkPad styling in favor of rounded edges and high-gloss, fingerprint-grabbing plastics. Build quality feels high, and the hinge is sturdy; unfortunately there’s more than the usual degree of flex in the keyboard and the trackpad’s frustrating integrated mouse-click buttons made us wish for a traditional Lenovo TrackPoint nubbin. The 10.1-inch netbook measures in at a reasonably-slender 282 x 202 x 15-35 mm, with thickness depending on which battery you opt for. The 8-cell pack will boost runtimes, of course, but adds significant girth over the slimmer 4-cell version; our unit came with the latter, and proved reasonable comfortable to hold for moderate periods in tablet orientation.
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https://www.slashgear.com/lenovo-ideapad-s10-3t-review-2378741/

Apple iPad Review

Apple iPad Review

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The Apple iPad is here, and if ever there was a contentious gadget, this is it. We met with Apple this past week to pick up one of a few iPads let out into the wild early, and have been playing with it ever since. Already the subject of countless discussions, arguments and parodies – not least because of what it doesn’t do rather than what it’s actually capable of – there’s also a grudging expectation that, if anyone can make tablets wildly popular, it’s probably Apple. So, does the iPad live up to its promise, or is this really just an oversized iPod touch too big (and too expensive) for your pocket? Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.

We’re a long way from the days where Apple included half the accessories you might ever need in the box with your new gadget. In with the iPad there’s a USB to Dock Connector cable, an AC adapter that plugs directly into a mains socket, and some sparse documentation. Most conspicuously absent are Apple’s regulation white headphones, which even the lowliest iPod is bundled with, though given their mediocre quality they would’ve been the first thing we’d suggested replacing anyway.
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