Monthly Archives: May 2015

HP TouchPad Review

May 16, 2015Tabletsandroid, fingerprint, guide, hardware, honeycomb, HP, hp touchpad, ipad, mobile, palm, Palm Pre, review, Slashgear, software, tablet, touchpad, webos 3.0

We’ve been demanding a tablet running webOS for years now, and it’s taken HP’s new stewardship of the software to guide just that onto store shelves. Palm’s mobile platform always seemed to good to be left solely to smartphones, and the HP TouchPad is the inevitable result. Problem is, the iPad has already made its presence well and truly known, dominating the consumer tablet market, and Android’s Honeycomb drive gains OEM support by the week. Can the multitasking charms of webOS 3.0 promise the TouchPad a bright future, or is it simply a case of too late to the party? Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.

Hardware

Anyone who has played with a Palm Pre will recognize the HP TouchPad, a square of glossy black plastic with rounded-off corners. It’s a fingerprint-magnet front and back: within seconds of getting it out of the box it was already smudged and smeared with finger grease. We quickly swaddled it in a Fusion of Ideas Stealth Armor adhesive case, since the plastic picks up tiny scratches with reasonable ease, though build quality generally was creak-free.
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https://www.slashgear.com/hp-touchpad-review-29162207/

BeBook Live Review

May 16, 2015Tabletsandroid, bebook, ereader, gaming, hardware, HDMI, ipad, kindle, review, Slashgear, tablet

BeBook is a company better known for its ereaders, but the lure of the tablet has proved too great. The BeBook Live is a low-cost Android slate, still proclaiming its ereader heritage but also hoping to earn itself a place as your browsing, multimedia and gaming gadget of choice. With a price significantly lower than that of rival tablets, can the BeBook Live really replace both your iPad and your Kindle in one fell swoop? Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.

Hardware

At £229 in the UK, it’s too much to expect metal for the BeBook Live’s construction, though the 140 x 202 x 11 mm, 426g plastic slab is at least creak and flex-free. The 7-inch display is the only glossy part of it, too; the back panel is a sensible – if uninspiring – matte finish expanse of black, with only the (poorly) printed logo and an adhesive serial number label to break it up. Most of the controls and ports are around the silver plastic edge, with the power button, recessed soft-reset button, volume keys and a useful screen rotation lock switch on the top, then the mini HDMI, microSD and miniUSB ports along the side. BeBook’s use of a mini rather than microUSB port for charging/syncing is a frustration, as is the fact that there’s no HDMI cable included in the box.
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https://www.slashgear.com/bebook-live-review-07163670/

iRiver Story HD Review

May 15, 2015TabletsAmazon, amazon kindle, controller, Google, hardware, HD, iriver, kindle, review, Slashgear

The iRiver Story HD is touted as the very first e-reader to have Google eBookstore integration. The original iRiver Story has been called an Amazon Kindle clone, but this new model affixed with “HD” to its name now sports a higher XGA (1024×768) resolution display and some unusual design tweaks. Priced to compete with the Kindle at $139, the iRiver Story HD is hitting stores July 17, but should you plan to pick one up? Continue after the cut for the full review.

Hardware

The design of the iRiver Story HD is a bit surprising at first glance. Chocolate milk brown is an unusual color choice, but that’s what covers the back and the framing edge while the front face is a creamy white. The keyboard is comprised of horizontal slivers of raised buttons resembling clear glass beads with brown backing underneath while the four-way controller button is silver.
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https://www.slashgear.com/iriver-story-hd-review-16165108/

Toshiba Thrive Review

May 15, 2015Tabletsandroid, Apple, Apple iPad, apple ipad 2, galaxy, galaxy tab, hardware, honeycomb, HP, hp touchpad, ipad, ipad 2, Motorola, motorola xoom, review, Samsung, Samsung Galaxy, samsung galaxy tab, Slashgear, smart, tablet, toshiba, toshiba thrive, touchpad, xoom

The Toshiba Thrive isn’t a sexy tablet. It’s plump, homely, a little bit awkward, and although smart and supportive, you won’t be showing it off much to your buddies. But if you’re reading this review, you probably already know that. You’re considering the Toshiba Thrive because you see past a pretty exterior and a tight slender body. You want great specs inside, a good clean install of Android 3.1 Honeycomb, ample full-sized ports, and a swappable battery among other unique features.

Hardware

When most tablets are feeling the pressure to be thin and light, the Toshiba Thrive balks at the trend, choosing individuality instead with a weight of 1.66 pounds. Although this surpasses the Motorola XOOM and the HP TouchPad by just 0.06 pounds, it does put the Thrive at top of the heavyweight list. To make matters worse is the bulk. The Thrive measures 0.62 inches thick, almost double that of the Apple iPad 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. However, on second thought, this thickness plus the textured rubbery backing do make it more comfortable to grip compared to even a slightly lighter tablet with a much slimmer profile.
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https://www.slashgear.com/toshiba-thrive-review-23167092/

Vizio Tablet Review

May 15, 2015Tabletsandroid, experience, hardware, marvell, processor, ram, review, Slashgear, tablet, tablet review, vizio

The Vizio Tablet is a pleasant surprise. Vizio is known more for affordable TVs and it has entered the tablet market with a similar value-oriented mindset, offering an 8-inch Android slate that delivers a well thought out consumer-centric experience along with unique features that even the most discriminating tablet enthusiasts can appreciate. It has its drawbacks, but if you’re budget-conscious and want to find your first tablet that’s the best bang for the buck, then do read on for our full review.

Hardware

When it comes to the hardware specs, the Vizio Tablet isn’t going to blow your mind given its cost constraints. But, what’s there has been thoughtfully selected for the least amount of compromise. The 1GHz Marvell Armada 600 Series single-core processor, along with 512MB of RAM, offers enough performance power without the battery drain, but we’ll get into the benchmarks and battery life later.
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https://www.slashgear.com/vizio-tablet-review-06168819/

Lenovo IdeaPad K1 Review

May 15, 2015Tabletsandroid, android tablets, camera, flash, hardware, honeycomb, ideapad, IPS, LED, Lenovo, Nvidia, Nvidia Tegra, processor, ram, review, Slashgear, tablet, tegra 2

The IdeaPad K1 is one of the first two Android tablets to come from Lenovo. It’s a competitive 10.1-inch Android 3.1 Honeycomb tablet with almost all the specs you’d anticipate from a slate equipped with the NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor, but attempts to standout with its own individual style, unique interface features, and a price tag that’s $100 less than its rivals.

Hardware

The Lenovo IdeaPad K1 sports a 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core processor along with 1GB of RAM. Its 10.1-inch multitouch display has a 1280 x 800 resolution with a 16:10 aspect ratio and very good viewing angles all around as can be expected from an IPS panel. It has an internal storage of 32GB that can be doubled with a microSD card of up to 32GB. It also has a front-facing 2-megapixel camera as well as a rear-facing 5-megapixel camera with an LED flash.
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https://www.slashgear.com/lenovo-ideapad-k1-review-08168605/

Google Cr-48 Chrome OS notebook review

May 15, 2015Computers & ITcardboard, Chrome, chrome os, Google, hardware, notebook, preview, review, Slashgear

Google’s first Chrome OS notebook, the Cr-48, has landed on the SlashGear test bench, and to say it’s an interesting machine would be an understatement. The stealth-black 12.1-inch ultraportable is, like the color-scheme suggests, intended to fall into the background and let the Chrome OS platform take center-stage. Check out our full review after the cut.

Hardware

The Cr-48 isn’t for general sale, instead being distributed as part of Google’s preview program for Chrome OS, and as such there’s not a huge amount in terms of accessories in the decorated cardboard carton. The removable battery, AC adapter and power lead – together with the Cr-48 itself – just about covers it, in fact.
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https://www.slashgear.com/google-cr-48-chrome-os-notebook-review-20120389/

HP ENVY 17 3D Review

May 15, 2015Computers & IT3D, computer, desktop, hardware, HP, hp envy, laptop, MacBook, macbook air, notebook, review, Slashgear

Welcome to a review of the biggest fattest HP 3D desktop replacement notebook you’ll ever come across. Not that it’s the biggest that’ll ever be made, but when you’ve got this thing sitting on your desk, you’ll wonder how you ever got along without such an abundance of screen real-estate on what the world, up until recently, was calling a laptop computer. This is the HP ENVY 17 3D, and not only does it have full 3D capabilities and a width bigger than your humble narrator’s torso, it’s got a screen so bright it makes the real world seem yellow.

Hardware

This gigantic HP ENVY 17 3D review unit is a fabulously large at 16.38″(W) x 10.83″ (D) x1.25″ (min height) / 1.52″ (max height). It weighs in at 7.37 lbs – more than you’ll want to be carrying around in your packpack, if you know what I’m talking about (unless of course you’d like to bring it to a LAN and impress your comrades of course, then weight is never an issue.) I wouldn’t expect a 17.3″ notebook to be any less heavy than this, but hey, we’re in an age where a MacBook Air can be so small and thing that it gets thrown away with the mail on accident, so what do I know?
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https://www.slashgear.com/hp-envy-17-3d-review-01122339/

Lenovo U260 IdeaPad Notebook Review

May 15, 2015Computers & ITApple, business, experience, games, ideapad, laptop, Lenovo, MacBooks, notebook, orange, review, Slashgear, Windows, windows 7

The following is a review of the black and orange Lenovo U260 IdeaPad Windows 7 notebook – a super-comfortable little businessman made for ultra-stylish checkings of online business and perhaps even the playing of some games. The very first thing you’ll notice about this laptop is that it is a fantastic shade of orange – this is one of two colors it can be, (the other being Mocha,) but that’s not the reason you’ll stick around. Nor is the most comfortable experience I’ve had with a notebook since I first started using MacBooks – use this factoid in your judgement of MY judgement, because it makes me a hard customer to sell when it comes to notebooks outside of the industrial designer brilliance employed by Apple. Note first and foremost that I think Apple’s people should talk to Lenovo’s people here if they ever plan on moving away from hard plastic and flat metal surfaces.
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https://www.slashgear.com/lenovo-u260-ideapad-notebook-review-17126802/

MacBook Pro 15-inch Review (early 2011)

May 15, 2015Computers & ITAMD, Apple, hardware, Intel, MacBook, macbook pro, MacBook Pro 15, Mini DisplayPort, notebook, processor, review, Slashgear

Apple’s MacBook Pro refresh last week didn’t get a press event with huge fanfare, but it’s arguably the most important update to the notebook range in some time. Bringing in Intel’s 2011 Core processor range across the board, and spicing up the larger models with AMD discrete graphics, the new versions may look the same but they promise a huge leap in performance. The high-end 15-inch MacBook Pro arrived on the SlashGear test bench last Thursday and we’ve been putting it through its paces ever since. Could this really be the best notebook around? Check out the full review after the cut.

Hardware

At first glance, there’s little to differentiate this new MacBook Pro from the model it replaces. Apple has kept the unibody aluminum chassis, backlit keyboard and broad, glass multitouch trackpad, and the glossy display is the same 1440 x 900 resolution and 15.4-inch size. At first glance, even the ports look the same, thanks to Thunderbolt – more on which later – sharing the same form-factor as Mini DisplayPort.
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https://www.slashgear.com/macbook-pro-15-inch-review-early-2011-01136829/

Acer TimelineX AS5830TG-640 Review

May 15, 2015Computers & ITAcer, Aspire, audio, Bluetooth, core i5, desktop, geforce, hardware, HDMI, Intel, LED, memory, memory card, notebook, Nvidia, NVIDIA GeForce, processor, review, sandy bridge, Slashgear, turbo, usb, usb 3.0, video, wifi

With great power comes great responsibility, and also – if you’re talking about Intel’s 2011 Sandy Bridge processor line-up, at least – generally sizable pricing. Acer is looking to change that with the new Aspire TimelineX AS5830TG-6402, a lengthy name for a 15.6-inch Core i5 notebook that ticks all the spec boxes for a high-speed desktop replacement only with a bargain $799.99 price tag. Too good to be true or the best deal around? Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.

Hardware

Your $800 gets you Intel’s Core i5-2410M processor, normally running at 2.3GHz but capable of up to 2.9GHz with Intel’s Turbo Boost, and paired with 6GB of DDR3 1066MHz memory, NVIDIA GeForce GT520M graphics with 1GB of dedicated video memory, and a 640GB 5,400rpm hard-drive. There’s also WiFi b/g/n, an 8x DVD burner and Bluetooth 3.0+HS.

The display is a 15.6-inch panel running at 1366 x 768 and, like most notebooks around today with a decidedly glossy finish. Still, colors are impressive and the LED backlighting is even and bright. Above is a 1.3-megapixel webcam. Ports include three USB 2.0 and a separate USB 3.0 port, VGA, HDMI, audio in/out (supporting S/PDIF digital) and gigabit ethernet. There’s also a multi-format memory card slot.
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https://www.slashgear.com/acer-timelinex-as5830tg-640-review-30162414/

Toshiba Satellite P745-S4250 Review

May 15, 2015Computers & ITAMD, audio, core i5, dolby, entertainment, hardware, HD, Intel, intel core i5, laptop, Laptops, mobile, movie, optical, processor, ram, review, sandy bridge, Slashgear, speakers, stereo, toshiba, turbo

The Toshiba Satellite P740 Series is focused on delivering excellent on-the-go multimedia and entertainment performance. Laptops in this series are 14-inches for easy portability while still providing ample space for movie viewing on its HD widescreen display. Add to that great audio quality with Harmon/Kardon stereo speakers as well as Dolby and Waves audio enhancement technologies. The model we had the opportunity to test out is the P745-S4250, which sports the latest Intel Sandy Bridge chip and retails for $779.99. Continue after the cut for our full review.

Hardware

The series comes in configurations with either the latest Intel Core processors or with an AMD A6-3400M processor. Our P745-S4250 model is configured with an Intel Core i5-2410M with Mobile Intel HD Graphics. The processor clocks in at 2.3GHz and can go up to 2.9GHz with Intel’s Turbo Boost technology. The laptop also boasts 6GB of DDR3 1333MHz RAM, a 750GB HDD with 5400 RPM, and a DVD SuperMulti optical disk drive.
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https://www.slashgear.com/toshiba-satellite-p745-s4250-review-29174379/

Acer Aspire Ethos 8951G Review

May 15, 2015Computers & ITAcer, Acer Aspire, Aspire, desktop, home, hybrid, notebook, PC, remote control, review, Slashgear, touchpad

If you’re looking for a desktop PC replacement that’s stylish yet powerful when it comes to multimedia performance, then you might want to consider the Acer Aspire Ethos series notebooks. The latest revamp to this high-end series features a unique detachable touchpad that doubles as a remote control and comes in a 15.6-inch model (5951G) and an 18.4-inch model (8951G). We spent some time with the larger Ethos 8951G, so read on for our full review.

The massive 18.4-inch size makes the 8951G a hybrid of a notebook and an all-in-one PC that you certainly won’t be carrying around town. It’s still less hassle than a desktop PC if you ever did need to take it somewhere and it’s easier to stow away when not in use. But, most likely you’ll have it sitting pretty in your home as a media center.
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https://www.slashgear.com/acer-aspire-ethos-8951g-review-07163356/

MacBook Air 13-inch core i5 Review (mid-2011)

May 15, 2015Computers & IT256GB, Apple, core i5, core i7, flash, hardware, Intel, MacBook, macbook air, mobile, OS X, processor, ram, review, Slashgear

Apple’s MacBook Air left many mobile users with a difficult decision back in late 2010. The unibody ultraportable was certainly beautiful, but its ULV processor left some wary that OS X might not be able to keep up with their lifestyle. The new 2011 MacBook Air fixes that, slotting in Intel’s latest Core i5 and i7 chips and adding other niceties such as a backlit keyboard. Is this the best ultraportable on the market today? Read on for the full SlashGear review.

Hardware

Outwardly, there’s little to differentiate this year’s MacBook Air from its predecessor. Apple still offers two sizes – an 11.6-inch with a 1366 x 768 display and a 13.3-inch with a 1440 x 900 display – starting from $999, but the entry-level processor is now Intel’s 1.6 GHz dual-core Core i5 rather than the older Core 2 Duo. The lowest price Air has 64GB of flash storage and 2GB of 1333MHz DDR3 RAM, while the $1,199 higher-spec version keeps the 11.6-inch display but increases storage to 128GB of flash. It can also be upgraded to 256GB as well as boosting the processor to a dual-core 1.8GHz Core i7 and the RAM up to 4GB.
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https://www.slashgear.com/macbook-air-13-inch-core-i5-review-mid-2011-22166937/

Toshiba Satellite L755D-S5204 Review

May 15, 2015Computers & IT3D, AKA, AMD, hardware, HD, home, Intel, laptop, Laptops, movies, optical, processor, Quad, radeon, ram, review, Slashgear, toshiba

The Toshiba Satellite L750 Series offers affordably priced all-purpose laptops that target everyday use for students, families, or home businesses. They boast large 15.6-inch widescreen displays that come in either HD or 3D that are great for watching movies and multitasking along with strong all-around performance. And with a price tag starting at $474.99, the series is definitely worth consideration for the budget-conscious. We got to spend some time with the L755D-S5204 model from the series that’s configured with an AMD Fusion accelerated processor, so continue after the cut for our full review.

Hardware

The specific configuration we have with model number L755D-S5204 comes with an AMD Fusion (aka Llano) quad-core A6-3400M processor. Various Intel processors are available in other configurations of the series. The A6-3400M clocks in at 2.3GHz and is paired with AMD’s Radeon HD 6520G Graphics. The laptop also has 4GB of DDR3 1333MHz RAM, a 640GB HDD with 5400 RPM, and a DVD SuperMulti optical disk drive.
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https://www.slashgear.com/toshiba-satellite-l755d-s5204-review-29174381/

HTC One X+ Review

May 15, 2015Phonesandroid, camera, HTC, HTC one, htc one x, Instagram, jelly bean, Nvidia, Nvidia Tegra, review, Slashgear, tegra 3, video

HTC’s One X, which launched earlier in the year, turned out to bequite a capable Android handset, and it was leaps and bounds above the company’s 2011 lineup. However, HTC decided to launch an updated version just a few months after the release of its predecessor. It’s available now exclusively on AT&T’s network, and it’s priced at $199 after a two-year contract. While the One X+ may not look any different than the One X, it does come with some decent and welcomed updates on the inside. It comes out of the box with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, a NVIDIA Tegra 3 chip, 64GB of storage, and a slightly larger 2100mAh battery. These changes certainly are key updates that are crucial if HTC wants to keep up with other flagships going into the holiday season, but are the upgrades worth the higher price? And more importantly, can it compete with the other top-tier handsets on the market?

Camera

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As far as different features, there’s Panorama mode and the aforementioned HDR mode, as well as a built-in Slow Motion mode. These aren’t anything new, as we’re already used to seeing these in the HTC One series. There are also a handful of color effects that you can choose from and apply them to photos and videos in real time — sort of like Instagram, but not quite as comprehensive.

As far as video quality goes, it was slightly above average, but it wasn’t without its faults. The increase to 30fps is certainly something that we don’t mind, but the difference from 24fps is negligible. Most videophiles will be able to tell the difference, of course, but casual videographers won’t care too much. Exposure changes going from dimly-lit areas to well-lit areas and vice versa is quick, and continuous autofocus works fairly well too, although there were times when it took a bit of time to refocus.

[su_slider source=”media: 4585,4586,4587,4588,4589″ height=”400″ title=”no”]
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https://www.slashgear.com/htc-one-x-review-2-07259494/

Windows Phone 8S by HTC Review

May 15, 2015Phonescamera, hardware, HTC, iphone, iphone 5, Microsoft, phone, review, Sharp, Slashgear, Windows, Windows Phone, Windows phone 8

HTC dug deep for its Windows Phone 8 line-up, coming out with a pair of distinctively designed smartphones that promptly earned Microsoft “Signature” status. The Windows Phone 8X already impressed us, and now it’s the turn of its smaller sibling, the 8S, to have its moment in the spotlight. Is the 8S more than just a pretty face, or has HTC cut too many corners to hit the midrange price tag? Read on for our full review.

Hardware

With the trend toward bigger and bigger displays, the 4-inch 8S is almost an outlier. At 120.5 x 63 x 10.28 mm it’s broader and thicker than the obvious 4-inch alternative, the iPhone 5, though shorter; the sharp bevel around the edges of the rear panel does help disguise some of the thickness, however. HTC’s polycarbonate plastic is bright and tactile, and the range of colors the 8S is available in is a welcome change from the typical choices of black, white, or silver. The two-tone finish – with the earpiece grille and camera surround matching the capacitive button section – shows admirable attention to detail for the midrange.
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https://www.slashgear.com/windows-phone-8s-by-htc-review-13260807/

Motorola Electrify M Review (US Cellular)

May 15, 2015Phones4g, 4g lte, carriers, droid, hardware, lte, Motorola, phone, razr, review, Slashgear, Verizon

Motorola is really pushing their DROID RAZR series pretty hard, and while they’re only exclusive to Verizon customers, the company has been slowly migrating their RAZR lineup to other carriers by making some minor changes to the design and branding. US Cellular already has a few Motorola devices in its arsenal, one of which is the new Electrify M, the equivalent to Verizon’s DROID RAZR M, which we took a look at a few months ago. It’s available now exclusively on US Cellular at a price of $99 ($149 if you don’t have the carrier’s 4G LTE in your area). The phone is classified as a mid-range handset, but it proves that big things can come in small packages. However, let’s find out if US Cellular’s latest Motorola device is worth your time — and more importantly — your money.

Hardware

Despite the Electrify M being the DROID RAZR M’s brother, they look hardly alike. The Electrify M has a plain and dimpled silver backplate, while the RAZR M sports the fancy kevlar lining that the DROID RAZR series is known for. That difference alone separates the two devices on opposite ends of the spectrum as far as looks and design. Other than that, though, all the buttons are in the same place — the power and volume buttons are situated on the right side, while the microUSB port, as well as the SIM and microSD card slots are on the left, accompanied with a large flap door. Essentially, this specific layout of the buttons and ports is something we don’t see everyday, but it’s traditional on Motorola’s latest phones, and it’s nothing that users won’t easily get accustomed to.
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https://www.slashgear.com/motorola-electrify-m-review-us-cellular-24262061/

HTC One VX Review

May 15, 2015Phonesdroid, hands on, hardware, HTC, HTC one, processor, Qualcomm, ram, review, Slashgear, smartphone, Snapdragon

HTC recently made their case for a top-tier handset back in November, with the DROID DNA boasting the highest-resolution display of any smartphone. However, in order to balance out its offerings, HTC has a new budget-friendly handset in town. The One VX is the company’s latest mid-range smartphone added on to theirOne series of devices, and priced at only $49 on AT&T’s network (after signing a two-year contract, of course), we simply had to get our grubby little hands on this device to see what it’s capable of. Does it provide value to entry-level minded customers without sacrificing a lot in terms of features and performance? Let’s find out.

Hardware

The One VX sports a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor clocked at 1.2GHz with 1GB of RAM, and 8GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD card slot). Overall, this is pretty typical of a budget-friendly device, and while we would’ve liked to see at least 16GB of built-in storage, we can’t really complain about the fact that it comes with a microSD card slot, a feature that a lot of other phones are neglecting.
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https://www.slashgear.com/htc-one-vx-review-03262846/

HTC One SV Review

May 15, 2015Phones4g, android, ee, Gorilla Glass, hardware, HTC, HTC one, htc one sv, lte, palm, review, Slashgear

Flagship smartphones may get us talking, but it’s mass market devices like the HTC One SV that get huge sales, and that’s just what UK 4G trailblazer EE needs to help push LTE to the mainstream. HTC’s mid-range Android ticks some high-end boxes, with its 4G support and slick design, but there are compromises in the mixture too, in order to hit a more affordable price point. Is the One SV the LTE Android for the everyman? Read on for our full review.

Hardware and Design

For a mid-range handset, HTC has done a decent job with the One SV’s physical design. The back cover – removable, unlike many recent HTC phones – has the same soft-touch finish as we know from the 8X and One S, despite being plastic, while the scratch-proof Corning Gorilla Glass 2 up-front has smoothly curved edges which help the slightly angular sides nestle nicely into the palm of your hand.
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https://www.slashgear.com/htc-one-sv-review-23266353/

BlackBerry Z10 Review

May 15, 2015Phonesandroid, blackberry, blackberry 10, blackberry z10, developer, enterprise, hardware, iOS, phone, qwerty, review, rim, Slashgear, Windows, Windows Phone

RIM reborn… and now it’s BlackBerry, if you don’t mind. Rebranded, refreshed, and desperate to impress, you can’t knock BlackBerry’s enthusiasm about its now-eponymous platform. Then again, it’s had several months of delays in which to practice, and theBlackBerry Z10 – first out of the gate to run the OS – is so close to the two prior variants of developer device that there isn’t a long list of new features to be learned. Instead, and with the arguably more important Q10 QWERTY version a couple of months off, it’s a case of making an argument for BlackBerry 10 to occupy the coveted “third ecosystem” spot, and the scraps left behind from Android and iOS. Is BlackBerry 10 the OS to give Windows Phone nightmares, reboot BlackBerry itself, and snatch both consumer and enterprise crowns? Read on for our full review.

Hardware and Design

Familiar and bland. The Z10 is a reasonably nondescript slab of black plastic and glass; as close to the sketched-in graphic of a “generic touchscreen phone” as you could imagine. BlackBerry was always keen to stress that the A and B versions of the Dev Alpha developer device were far from production-status, but bar a little aesthetic smoothing – the ridge around the display is gone, and the upper and lower front bezels are refined – this is the same identikit block as we’ve been seeing for months.
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https://www.slashgear.com/blackberry-z10-review-02267740/

Nokia Lumia 620 Review

May 15, 2015Phoneshardware, hue, Lumia, Nokia, nokia lumia 620, phone, review, Slashgear, smartphone, Windows, Windows Phone

Here’s a spoiler: Nokia’s Lumia 620 is arguably the most balanced device in the company’s current line-up, and it makes a case for being the best mainstream smartphone on the market today. Excessive praise for a cheap Windows Phone? Perhaps, but when it comes to blending price, specifications, size, and flexibility, the Lumia 620 ticks plenty of boxes for the everyday consumer, as well as demonstrating exactly what it is that still gives us hope for Nokia in the future. Read on for the full review.

Hardware

It’s XpressCovers all over again; only better. Nokia has played with interchangeable covers for its Windows Phone range before, but the Lumia 620 has the most eye-catching system yet. Multiple color options out of the gate – Nokia expects the Lumia 620 to be popular with teenage users, first-time smartphone adopters, and geeks needing a second device, so is covering its bases with hue and finish – make for a readily customized handset that recalls S40 devices of old.
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https://www.slashgear.com/nokia-lumia-620-review-16268466/

Sony Xperia Z Review

May 15, 2015PhonesApple, camera, full HD, hardware, HD, HTC, Japan, LG, phone, review, rugged, Samsung, Slashgear, smartphone, Sony, Sony xperia, sony xperia z, xperia

Sony’s problems in the smartphone arena aren’t unique – HTC, LG, and others are all struggling to compete with Samsung and Apple – but they’re nonetheless pressing, and the Xperia Z is the solution it hopes will address that. Piecing together top-tier specifications, like a huge Full HD display, 13-megapixel camera, and the sort of waterproofing you’d normally have to go to Japan to find on a phone, the Xperia Z also marks a step up in design refinement for Sony, leagues away from the creaky plastic of its older phones. Still, the rest of the smartphone world hasn’t been standing still while Sony learns its lessons, and 2013 is already shaping up to be a knock-out one for devices. Can the Xperia Z maintain its CES momentum as it lands in the market? Read on for the full SlashGear review.

Hardware

For once, there’s a feeling that Sony isn’t keeping its best technology for the Japanese market. The Xperia Z is one of a rare breed of water resistant phones available outside of Japan, and even more unusually it’s free of many of the compromises “rugged” phones generally entail. Since Sony doesn’t make any claims about extra bump protection, the Xperia Z can be slim and reasonably light: 139 x 71 x 7.9 mm, in fact, and 146g, though the squared-off edges leave it feeling quite slabbish in the hand.
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https://www.slashgear.com/sony-xperia-z-review-24270827/

HTC One Review [2013]

May 15, 2015Phonesandroid, Apple, galaxy, game, hardware, how to, HTC, HTC one, MacBook, macbook pro, phone, recall, review, Samsung, Slashgear, smartphone, software

It’s been a tough few years for HTC, unsung victim of the Apple-Samsung smartphone war, and the new HTC One has a lot to do to fix that. The company has seen its place in Android dwindle from trailblazer to also-ran, as Samsung’s cutting-edge hardware and vast marketing budget forced Galaxy to the fore. Solid phones like 2012’s One X and One S failed to relight HTC’s fire, and so it has done the only thing it can: raise its game much, much higher with the HTC One. We’re back to the days of risk-taking hardware decisions and legitimately interesting software, but the big question is whether the One can pull it off. Read on for the full SlashGear review.

Design

Stunning. The HTC One makes a compelling argument for being the best-made Android phone we can recall, a design that both looks and feels premium (though photos don’t tend to do it justice, making it look flat and overly simplistic). Last year’sOne X was a solid device, with its polycarbonate plastic casing, but the One is leagues ahead. HTC went back to basics – CNC-intensive manufacturing processes; clever rethinking of how to finesse the most out of minimal antennas – with its industrial design, and the end result is a phone that’s creak-free and somehow timeless in the same way that Apple’s MacBook Pro design has gracefully evolved.
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https://www.slashgear.com/htc-one-review-2013-13273560/

Kyocera Torque Review

May 15, 2015Phoneshardware, kids, kyocera, phone, review, rugged, Slashgear, smartphone

Rugged smartphones meant for the trailblazer and the survivalist in all of us certainly aren’t rare, but it’s not very often that we get to review one. Kyocera recently announced the Torque, a mid-range smartphone that’s encased in a thick hard plastic shell that can absorb energy when dropped. It’s also water resistant and impervious to dust, and while the average hiker could easily take advantage of the device, the company also targets it towards construction workers and even parents who have small kids that can be more than a little rough with toys. Oh, and did we mention it’s Bear Grylls-approved?

Hardware & Design

The first thing you’ll notice with the Torque is its rugged look. It has a textured hard plastic Dura-Grip casing that protects it from drops, and every port is covered with a flap to keep water and dust out. The battery cover can come off, however, and it’s held on with a rather large screw that only requires a quarter turn to “unlock” it, so to speak. The cover is made out of a slightly-flexible rubber material to make it easy to pop off. Underneath the rear plate is a 2500mAh battery that powers the show, and it’s a slightly larger battery than we initially expected, but seeing how the Torque is meant for the adventurer, it’s critical to have a phone that can last all day.
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https://www.slashgear.com/kyocera-torque-review-13273727/

Iconia Tab A100 Review

May 15, 2015TabletsAcer, android, galaxy, galaxy tab, Google, honeycomb, mobile, nature, Pie, processor, review, Samsung, Samsung Galaxy, samsung galaxy tab, Slashgear, tablet, tegra 2

It is true that Acer only a few months ago brought us one of the first round of Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablets In the Iconia Tab A500, a 10-inch tablet with a thin metal backing attached to one of the cheapest prices on the market. What we’ve got now is only the second 7-inch tablet on the market and the first one to carry any version of Honeycomb. Furthermore, this A100 7-inch Acer tablet is the world’s first Android 3.2 Honeycomb tablet, 3.2 being the first tablet-oriented Google mobile OS made for tablets of under 10 inches in size. This tablet is not meant to be the thinnest tablet on the market, and neither this nor the original Samsung Galaxy Tab 7-inch tablet are likely to be winning the tablet fashion show, but what we DO have here is a nice little “tween” sized Android device totingNVIDIA’s Tegra 2 dual-core processor – will it carve its own piece out of the tablet market pie due to it’s relatively unique nature?

Before we engage in judgement, let’s have a look at what we’re dealing with here in the tablet as it comes directly out of the box. Vincent Nguyen will show you just what this device is all about as he flips it over in his hands for the first time:
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https://www.slashgear.com/iconia-tab-a100-review-17172287/

Sony Tablet S Review

May 15, 2015Tabletsandroid, fingerprint, game, hardware, honeycomb, ipad, Nvidia, Pixel, ram, review, Slashgear, Sony, tablet, tegra 2, vaio

It’s been some time since Sony had a tablet on the market. Times have changed since the VAIO UX’s day, though, and where once tablets were niche devices, now they’re making headway into our living rooms. The Sony Tablet S is the first model of the company’s new strategy, packing Android Honeycomb into a hardware design that’s a little more interesting than many rivals have managed. Late to the game against the iPad, though, has the Tablet S’ tardiness undermined its potential? Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.

Hardware

Sony hasn’t strayed too far from the Honeycomb herd with the Tablet S’ core specifications. Powered by NVIDIA’s dual-core Tegra 2 paired with 1GB of RAM, its dimensions are kept compact thanks to a slightly smaller than usual 9.4-inch capacitive touchscreen. This still runs at 1280 x 800, like 10.1-inch Honeycomb slates, so the only real difference is a slightly higher pixel density. The display overall is a success, with wide viewing angles and solid contrast, though as is often the case it’s highly reflective and a fingerprint magnet.
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https://www.slashgear.com/sony-tablet-s-review-31175244/

ACER Iconia Tab A501 with 4G Review

May 15, 2015Tablets4g, 4g lte, Acer, Acer iconia tab, Acer iconia tab a501, android, android tablets, honeycomb, lte, review, Slashgear, tablet, video

Today we have the ACER Iconia Tab A501 full of AT&T 4G connectivity to show you. We’ve been enjoying this tablet over the past week or so, taking the 4G for a ride and checking performance. Android tablets come in all shapes and sizes, this is just one more we can add to the list although not many have full 4G support. Take a glance with SlashGear at a few photos, video, and benchmarks and see if this is the tablet for you.

The ACER A501 follows the same footsteps as the original Iconia A500 in every way imaginable, nothing here has changed so you can expect the same good build quality, stellar performance, and crisp bright screen. The one deciding factor here is AT&T 4G comes included with the A501. One of AT&T’s first fully capable 4G tablets running on Android Honeycomb although I must mention this is not the next-gen 4G LTE, instead we have HSPA+ speeds but more on that below.
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https://www.slashgear.com/acer-iconia-tab-a501-with-4g-review-16180224/

ARCHOS 80 G9 Review [Video]

May 15, 2015Tabletsandroid, android tablets, archos, developer, hands on, hardware, mwc, omap4, processor, prototype, review, Slashgear, tablet, texas instruments, video

It’s time for the G9 series of Android tablets from ARCHOS, a Texas Intstruments OMAP4 dual-core 1GHz processor toting set of unique-looking pieces of hardware set to hit the streets of North America soon. What we’ve got here is the smaller of the two, the 80, the more enticingly sized tablet while the 101 version, at 10.1 inches, sits kindly in a stream of 10.1-inched tablets that appears never-ending. Both tablets have essentially the same set of specs, other than the screen size, so come with us here on a journey that’ll reveal what you’ll be getting out of either.

Hardware

This is one of the first devices you’ll find on the market using the Texas Instruments OMAP4 dual-core processor (running here at 1GHz) and the first tablet you’ll see running the processor (other than developer units, of course). This is Texas Instruments first dual-core processor on the market and one we first saw up and running all the way back at MWC 2011 in Barcelona. We first got out hands on these devices (prototype versions, at least), back inJune of 2011 where we saw both versions again.
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https://www.slashgear.com/archos-80-g9-review-video-25182615/

Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet Review

May 15, 2015Tabletsandroid, business, hardware, honeycomb, IPS, laptop, Lenovo, Nvidia, Nvidia Tegra, portable, processor, ram, review, Slashgear, tablet, tablet review, tegra 2, thinkpad, video

Today we have the Lenovo ThinkPad tablet on the review board. The ThinkPad has the body of a tablet but the head for business. Running on Android 3.1 Honeycomb, but filled with years of business and consumer laptop thoughts and ideas thanks to Lenovo. The ThinkPad tablet helps power users and business professionals alike do more on the go, while managing to stay extremely portable even if it’s a bit heavy. We’ve gave it a quick glance and have plenty of photos and video after the break, so dig in and enjoy.

Hardware

To start with the hardware we have a quick video for you below, as well as our hands-on and unboxing post you can see here. What you get is an Android 3.1 Honeycomb tablet with a bright and vivid 10.1″ 1280 x 800 resolution IPS display. The IPS looks bright, vivid, clear, and has great contrast. Like most IPS displays the viewing angles are also quite excellent so that is another plus. Powered by the all to familiar NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core processor at 1.0 GHz, 1GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage (16 and 64GB versions also available). Coming in around 14.5mm thin and weighs 1.65 lbs. It may be heavier than most but it also has a wide array of ports for any users needs. More hardware specs and pics can be found after the video.
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https://www.slashgear.com/lenovo-thinkpad-tablet-review-27183350/