Monthly Archives: May 2015

HTC Jetstream Review

HTC Jetstream Review

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

 

Presenting HTC’s vision for the perfect 10-inch Android tablet, theHTC Jetstream, complete with a Qualcomm MSM8660 1.5 Ghz dual-core processor under the hood and a pricy $700 USD bill attached to it carried by AT&T. The question we’ve got on our minds, and have had on our minds since the pricing was first announced is: how could a 10-inch tablet enter an environment with several 10-inch tablets already having been out for several months with a significantly higher price and expect to do well for sales? As it turns out, this HTC tablet does not hold back – not in construction or content – but will its individual specifications be enough to create one product worthy of the price tag?

Hardware

This device, as I mentioned in the unboxing post, is amongst the highest-quality in tablet architecture on the market today. You don’t get much in the way of ports, unfortunately, with only a microUSB* at the bottom and a headphone jack at the top, but you DO get a full-sized SIM card slot and a microSD card slot under the ribbed plastic cover surrounding the back-facing 8-megapixel camera and dual-LED flash.
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Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/htc-jetstream-review-11186565/

ASUS Eee Pad Slider Review

ASUS Eee Pad Slider Review

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

 

Tablets took ASUS by surprise this year. The company revealed its two models, the Eee Pad Transformer and Eee Pad Slider, back at CES 2011 in January, and went on to see the Transformer become a sell-out success. The Slider SL101, meanwhile, failed to appear on schedule, and it’s only now – ten months after we saw it first – that units are finally reaching store shelves. Has time been kind, or is this Android tablet just a netbook with pretensions? Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.

Hardware

Accommodating a sliding mechanism means the Eee Pad Slider isn’t going to be as compact as some slate-only tablets we’ve seen. The ASUS measures in at 10.7 x 7.1 x 0.7 inches and 2.1 pounds (when closed), making it larger and heavier than most rivals. In contrast, the Eee Pad Transformer is thinner and lighter when slate-only, but bigger than the Eee Pad Slider when the battery-toting keyboard dock is attached. Of course, in doing so you also get a boost to runtime.
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https://www.slashgear.com/asus-eee-pad-slider-review-21189894/

Samsung Galaxy Note Review

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Big phone, small tablet, or unnecessary hybrid? Questions bubble up uncontrollably around the Samsung Galaxy Note; strangers can’t help but ask questions. No, we don’t have tiny hands; no, we didn’t put our iPad through a hot wash; no, just because it has a stylus, doesn’t mean it’s running Windows Mobile. Is 5.3-inches of Android more than any man, woman or child should be expected to stomach, or has Samsung’s scattershot approach to mobile device sizing struck gold this time around? Read on for the full SlashGear review.

Hardware

The Samsung Galaxy S II looked vast when we first saw it; the Galaxy Note knocks its smaller cellular sibling into the proverbial cocked hat. At 146.85 x 82.95 x 9.65 mm and 178g it’s certainly a handful, though the sub-centimeter thickness does mean it’s still relatively straightforward to slip into the front pocket of your jeans, assuming they’re not hipster-tight. It’s also faintly ridiculous to hold to your head during voice calls, like you’re resting your face against a broad Swedish cracker-bread, only smoother.
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https://www.slashgear.com/samsung-galaxy-note-review-04193076/

T-Mobile Springboard Tablet

T-Mobile Springboard Tablet Review

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

Say hello to T-Mobile’s most affordable slate, the T-Mobile Springboard Tablet. This might actually be the most affordable tablet in general, not just on T-Mobile. With dual-core power, good looks and a thin design this has an opportunity to really turn some heads — not to mention its low price and tons of features. Today we’ll be running through a quick review of this sleek new Android 3.2 Honeycomb tablet with T-Mobile 4G from Huawei, so enjoy all the photos and hands-on video after the break.

To get started we have a short and sweet hands-on unboxing video of the Springboard for everyone to experience so you have an understanding of this new tab. Then we’ll get into the hardware, software, and that pretty 7″ HD display all wrapped in aluminum.

T-Mobile Springboard hands-on video

[su_youtube url=”https://youtu.be/7vMS1cCgOv4″]
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https://www.slashgear.com/t-mobile-springboard-tablet-review-07193734/

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 Review

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AT&T and Samsung have brought forth a tablet that adds to their set of sleek Android-based slates, this one the first to work with the carrier’s 4G LTE network. Inside you’ll find the rather powerful 1.5Ghz Qualcomm MSM8660 dual-core processor, Samsung’s custom user interface TouchWiz UX made specifically for tablets, and either 16 or 32GB or internal storage. You can take 3 megapixel photos and 720p videos with the back-facing camera, slightly less impressive media with the front-facing 2 megapixel camera. As this tablet is thin, so is it speedy, and as there are now more than four different models of tablet running Android from Samsung on the market today, surely they’ve gotten the formula correct enough to warrant such an array by now – wouldn’t you say?

Hardware

Like its predecessors the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the Galaxy Tab 7.7, the Galaxy Tab 8.9 is monumentally thin, and just as it was when we first laid eyes and hands on the pre-production build back at CTIA spring 2011, this tablet is a winner when it comes to industrial design. It’s simply lovely in its form, feeling like Samsung wanted to knock the tablet game out of the park with a simple set of matte black plastic along the back and silver plastic around the edge, with the entirety of the front being a tough layer of glass and a 1/2-inch border of black under the glass around the 8.9-inch display. This display is a PLS TFT capacitive touchscreen at 800 x 1280 pixel resolution and the whole device sizes in at 230.9 x 157.8 x 8.6 mm.
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https://www.slashgear.com/samsung-galaxy-tab-8-9-review-28198178/

Lenovo IdeaPad Z370

Lenovo IdeaPad Z370 Review

Computers & IT, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

The Lenovo IdeaPad Z370 is an all-purpose 13.3-inch budget-friendly laptop that’s intriguing on the eyes and easy on the wallet. It comes in either a muted dark brown or a flashy aqua blue, both with a holographic matrix design on the lid and a stylish brushed metallic interior. The Z370 configuration we got to test packs an Intel Core i5 processor at a price of $622. Continue after the cut for our full review.

Hardware

The Charcoal Brown Z370 model we have sports a dark glossy top lid with a subtle holographic pattern and a silver Lenovo logo. The act of lifting open the lid is surprisingly pleasant. Perhaps it’s the combination of good hinges and a very thin lid in contrast to a hefty bottom. Whatever it is, it opens smoothly and closes just as nicely, snapping down by itself towards the end.

The keyboard and palm rest areas are a continuous surface with a brushed gunmetal material with a slight purple hue. The surface sinks down slightly for the chiclet style keyboard, but these aren’t your typical isolated keys. They have a unique shape with a slightly contoured bottom edge. They are not backlit though, but the physical power button and five capacitive touch controller buttons above the keyboard are.
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https://www.slashgear.com/lenovo-ideapad-z370-review-05174384/

Acer Aspire Ethos 5951G Review

Acer Aspire Ethos 5951G Review

Computers & IT, , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

The Acer Aspire Ethos 5951G is the 15.6-inch little brother in this top of the line entertainment and multimedia laptop series that also includes a super-sized 18.4-inch Aspire Ethos 8951G, which we reviewed previously. If you liked the performance along with the sleek and sophisticated styling of that one but need a more portable size, then this is it. Continue after the cut for our full review.

Hardware

The Aspire Ethos 5951G sports a black metal lid with subtle striations for a finish that’s sleek and sophisticated. Opening it up, you’ll find the same material used as the bed for the chiclet style keyboard. The black isolated keys are backlit and have a very reassuring resistance about them that provides a solid and comfortable typing experience.

The palm rest area is all black as well but is a matted surface that seems fingerprint-proof, which will keep it looking nice and grease-free. There’s a fingerprint reader located at the right side of this area, but what really stands out is the removable trackpad.
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https://www.slashgear.com/acer-aspire-ethos-5951g-review-05176786/

Samsung Series 5 Chromebook

Samsung Series 5 Chromebook Review

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You run your social life in the cloud. You handle your email in the cloud. You might even write your documents, store your music and keep your backups in the cloud. Why not do away with local computing altogether? That’s the premise of Google’s Chrome OS, relying on just a browser to be your window to the all-purpose web. The Samsung Chromebook Series 5 is one of the first notebooks to give Chrome OS a go, in the case of our Three powered machines offering 3G to release you from the WiFi teat, too. Can we really live in the cloud, or are we destined to tumble back to earth with a bump? Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.

Hardware and Design

Chromebooks are built to a budget – Samsung is offering the Series 5 in the US at $429.99 for the WiFi-only and $499.99 for the 3G version, while in the UK it’s £349.99 for the WiFi-only model and £399.99 for the 3G – and so you get a mixture of laptop and notebook functionality and style. Our white review unit is eye-catching, certainly, with a glossy lid and gently rounded black plastic elsewhere. Stylistically it reminds us of the N310 netbook, though we wish the rubberized chassis had been carried over too.
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https://www.slashgear.com/samsung-series-5-chromebook-review-23182273/

HP ENVY 15 Review

HP ENVY 15 Review

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All the headlines these days seem to be grabbed by those svelte little Ultrabooks, but there’s still a considerable market for big-screen, high-power laptops out there. HP is more than happy to serve, and their latest offerings in the top of the line ENVY family makes a compelling showing, combining media features and a premium fit and finish at a lower price than its competitors. Unlike the only technically portable ENVY 17 3D, the 15-inch size is ideal for a desktop replacement that’s still decent on portability. How does the ENVY 15 stack up? Let’s find out.

Hardware

The ENVY 15 shares a lot of design DNA with the rest of the line, and that means lots of metal and secondary utility as a blunt weapon. The typical high-class build quality is present in full force, with a new black-on-grey color scheme that’s accented with some red Beats trim. It would be almost impossible to forget the inspirations from Apple’s Macbook Pro line that defined the early ENVY models, but the latest seems to be finding a bit of its own identity. A depressed keyboard section and an analog audio dial inset into the body make for some unique and functional touches.

For a better look at the HP ENVY 15’s hardware, check out our unboxing video below:

[su_youtube url=”https://youtu.be/pnUnQ_QdCUA”]
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https://www.slashgear.com/hp-envy-15-review-03205581/

Lenovo IdeaPad U400 Review

Lenovo IdeaPad U400 Review

Computers & IT, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

This week we’ve got the newest offering in the ultraportable PC space with the Lenovo IdeaPad U400 sitting on the review block, and with its simplistic appearance, Core i5 processor inside, and classic “breathable” Lenovo keyboard, we’ve got what would appear at first to be an all-round lovely little number. This laptop has a 14-inch HD display, up to 4 hours of battery life off the cord, and it runs Windows 7 Home Premium out of the box. Is this the relatively tiny yet super powerful Windows machine you’ve been looking for all your life?

Hardware

This machine is nowhere near as light as the MacBook Air, and is not nearly as unique looking as the Alienware M17x (or the smaller 15), but you’re not in this for Apple or for light-up keys and gaming prowess, are you? You want a Lenovo laptop, and because you’ve been more than satisfied with the U260 IdeaPad you purchased at the start of 2011, you assume that this new much more powerful device will bump you up in every way. What you might want to consider though, in that case, is that the casing on this device isn’t the same super soft rubbery-like plastic you got with the U260 series, instead its a cold, smooth, silvery aluminum that’ll stick to your tongue if you’ve just gotten it in from the UPS truck – that’s a true story right there – believe it!
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https://www.slashgear.com/lenovo-ideapad-u400-review-06200500/

HP Folio 13 Review

HP Folio 13 Review

Computers & IT, , , , , , , , ,

 

Everyone has an laptop based on Intel’s Ultrabook spec these days, and if they don’t already, they showed it off at CES last week. Just being thin and light isn’t enough to stand out in the crowd now, and HP knows that. To that end, they’ve produced the Folio 13, an Ultrabook that they’re aiming at the business market. The 13-inch laptop still manages to come in at under a grand, so it’s worth considering even if you don’t spend most of your working hours between one terminal and another. How does the Folio 13 stack up to the rest of the Ultrabook competition? I spent the last week finding out.

Hardware

Not so long ago, HP was synonymous with cheap, bulky and entirely plastic machines that would crack and warp at the drop of the hat. But with the ENVY, EliteBook and now the Folio lines, they’re bucking the trend and bringing a little pride back to the old Hewlett Packard name. The Folio is neither the thinnest nor the lightest Ultrabook around, but when the difference is measured in millimeters and ounces, that doesn’t necessarily bother me. The screen lid and palmrest use a stylish brushed aluminum that looks good while keeping fingerprints mostly invisible, but the bezel and underside are soft-touch plastic, probably chosen to keep the weight down.

For a look at all the nooks and crannies, have a gander at our hands-on video below:

[su_youtube url=”https://youtu.be/oloBSMyT_Mw”]
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https://www.slashgear.com/hp-folio-13-review-18209804/

Motorola Lapdock 100 Review

Motorola Lapdock 100 Review

Computers & IT, , , ,

 

Motorola has since the first ATRIX device been pushing a mobile environment it calls Webtop, and here in one of two of its newest Webtop-based devices, the Lapdock 100, working in this world is a strangely enticing option. One of the set of tests I’m putting this Lapdock through is actually creating this post using the Lapdock itself NEARLY exclusively. I’ve not quite been able to bring myself to use it for any sort of image processing yet, but everything inside typing, highlighting, right-clicking, and the basics of blogging seem to be working just fine thus far. How’s this device hooked up with a Motorola smartphone work out for the rest of an everyday set of activities? We shall see!
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https://www.slashgear.com/motorola-lapdock-100-review-31191859/

Acer Aspire S3 (Core i7) Review

Acer Aspire S3 (Core i7) Review

Computers & IT, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

The Ultrabook world is continuing its rise to glory as the Acer Aspire S3 (here with the Core i7 processer inside) runs the thin show at .68 inches at its thickest point. This is by no means the thinnest notebook on earth, nor is it the Ultrabook with the most impressive set of specifications, but this relatively basic (if any Ultrabook is basic) model has a stack of features and a full package that will satisfy any general use owner. This notebook has a 13.3-inch Active Matrix TFT display at 1366 x 768 pixel resolution, CineCrystal (glossy) and clear as day coupled with Intel HD Graphics 3000 and Dolby Home Theater v4 audio enhancement on built-in stereo speakers – that means good entertainment.
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https://www.slashgear.com/acer-aspire-s3-core-i7-review-09212737/

HP Envy 14 Spectre Review

HP Envy 14 Spectre Review

Computers & IT, , , , , , , , , , ,

 

The HP ENVY 14 Spectre was easily one of the most promising ultrabooks we saw at CES 2012, and a few months of waiting hasn’t dampened our enthusiasm. The premium notebook combines high-end features and unique materials into a 14-inch body that’s distinct from just about everything on the market, which is something you couldn’t say for many of HP’s previous entries in the ENVY line. Does this unique machine rise above the pack? Let’ find out.

Hardware

The first thing you’ll notice upon taking the Spectre out of its premium packaging (after sliding off the complimentary neoprene case) is a lid that isn’t so much glossy as glassy. Gorilla Glass, to be specific: not only does it cover the screen, you’ll also find it on the touchpad, palmrest and the jet-black lid of the laptop itself. While this is certainly a unique approach (and much appreciated on the screen and touchpad) it makes the lid a rather predictable magnet for fingerprints and smudges. If the Spectre catches your eye for its looks, be prepared to lug around a microfiber cloth to keep it attractive.

[su_youtube url=”https://youtu.be/I-7ydYQOC7Y”]
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https://www.slashgear.com/hp-envy-14-spectre-review-13218224/

Sony Vaio S series 13.3-inch 2012 refresh Review

Sony Vaio S series 13.3-inch 2012 refresh Review

Computers & IT, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

The next generation of Vaio S-series laptops from Sony has arrived and we’re taking a look the the most basic model here today – the 13.3-inch with Intel Core i5 processor inside, matte black. This ultraportable laptop comes with the standard f-series keyboard, a switch which allows you to switch between Discreet graphics and AMD, the ability to keep working as long as possible with the former option or to be ultra productive with apps such as Photoshop with the latter. We’re going to take a look at if this beast is worth the $779.99 it costs for its least expensive configuration – let’s see!

Daily Use

This notebook is just 3.65 pounds, is relatively thin, and is set to be your own personal workhorse with not just a 4400mAh battery inside, but an additional 4400mAh Sheet Battery you can also purchase separately that effectively doubles your work time. This beast has two USB 2.0 ports, one USB 3.0 port, VGA out, HDMI, SD card and Sony HG Duo MagicGate card readers, ethernet port, and headphone jack. This laptop features a CD tray which you’re able to use as a CD/DVD burner or you can upgrade to a Blu-ray Disk player for an additional $100.
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https://www.slashgear.com/sony-vaio-s-series-13-3-inch-2012-refresh-review-14218366/

AT&T HTC One Review

AT&T HTC One Review

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

 

Is the HTC One the best Android smartphone around, and has the wait for the AT&T LTE version been worth it? We’ve already spent more than 6,000 words on the HTC One, back in our review of the European version, but this was our chance to put the first US-specific variant to the test. To do that we took it out into the wild to put the key selling points – specifically the UltraPixel camera and the 4G speed – on trial at the New York Auto Show, among other places, as well as to see if the non-removable battery is a deal-breaker in the face of the fast-incoming Samsung Galaxy S 4. Read on to find out how the HTC One fared.

Design, Performance, and Usability

We’ve already comprehensively covered the core proposition of the HTC One in our original review. Suffice to say, the appeal of the matte-finish metal handset hasn’t waned since then. Build quality keeps it at the top of the pile of Android devices in recent memory, for a start, and having weighed the One against the Galaxy S 4 at the Samsung phone’s launch, it’s clear that HTC has the edge in design and quality. One mild concern is the tendency of the white polycarbonate inset strip running the edge of the phone to pick up color smudges when we kept it in our jeans pocket, though these usually rubbed off.
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https://www.slashgear.com/att-htc-one-review-08276843/

HTC First Review

HTC First Review

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The HTC First is not the Facebook Phone, but it’s a Facebook Phone, and if you feel like we’ve been here before then you’re not alone. Baking the core essence of Facebook Home – “putting people first” with a content-rich homescreen and tightly integrated messaging – into a dedicated handset, the First is the start of what we’re told will be a series of Home “experience” devices. Problem is, HTC tried putting Facebook front and center once before, with the HTC Salsa and ChaCha, and neither found much favor among the socially-obsessed. Has the $99.99 First got what it takes to be our very best friend? Read on for the full SlashGear review.

Hardware

HTC may put Facebook at the core of the First, but the hardware does remind us of another phone: the HTC One S. At 4.96 x 2.56 x 0.35 inches and 4.37 ounces it’s a little shorter, but slightly thicker and heavier, than the 2012 midrange handset, sacrificing some sleekness by virtue of its cheaper soft-touch plastic body rather than the One S’ more premium-feel metal. HTC will offer four color options: white, black, red, and pale blue.
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https://www.slashgear.com/htc-first-review-09277062/

LG Lucid 2 Review

LG Lucid 2 Review

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Last year Verizon and LG partnered up to offer an inexpensive smartphone in the LG Lucid with 4G LTE, and now a year later we have the new and improved LG Lucid 2 on the SlashGear review bench. Today we’ll be taking a look at LG’s latest budget friendly 4G LTE packing smartphone over on Verizon Wireless. It’s absolutely free on contract from Big Red and runs Android 4.1.2 Jelly Beanand more so read on to see if it’s worth it – even for a freebie.

This brand new device was released on Verizon Wireless earlier this week and we’ve been putting it through the paces. It certainly isn’t a Galaxy S III or iPhone 5, but LG and Verizon are aiming for a more budget friendly crowd. Or someone that is fairly new to smartphones. You’ll be working with a decent mid-sized run of the mill 4.3-inch smartphone with some decent specs, but it’s the price point of free that is important here. Lets take a look.
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https://www.slashgear.com/lg-lucid-2-review-11277492/

Nokia Lumia 720 Review

Nokia Lumia 720 Review

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Nokia’s Lumia range is, depending on those you ask, either getting crowded or becoming more flexible, with the new Lumia 720 slotting in-between the 620 and the older 820. With its 4.3-inch screen adding up to a pocket-friendly size, the Lumia 720 makes a strong argument for the Windows Phone midrange. Still, we’ve already praised the Lumia 620 for punching above its station, so does the 720 really carve out enough of a difference to make it worth consideration? Read on for the full review.

Hardware

Nokia’s familial design language is clear in the Lumia 720, and it’s one of the more pleasing handsets to look at and hold in the company’s range. Narrower sides but wider top and bottom bezels make for a phone that’s slimmer but longer than the Lumia 820 it most closely resembles, though the 720 shaves 0.9 mm off the depth (taking it down to 9 mm).
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https://www.slashgear.com/nokia-lumia-720-review-18278211/

Pantech Perception Review

Pantech Perception Review

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This week we’ve had the opportunity to have a peek at the newest smartphone from Verizon in the Pantech Perception, a device whose gesture abilities appear at first to outweigh its full suite of high-end specifications. While this device isn’t exactly a match for the likes of the GALAXY S 4 from Samsung or the HTC One by any means, Pantech does appear to have created a solid device for the masses, and not one meant for the budget crowd they’ve so often tended to in the past.

Hardware

This device features a setup that, at the start of 2012, would have seemed like quite the beast. You’ve got a 4.8-inch Super AMOLED display at 1280 x 720 pixel resolution resting in a chassis largely made of hard plastic. This device does appear to have a brushed metal back, but don’t be fooled – it’s not quite that hardcore.
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https://www.slashgear.com/pantech-perception-review-01280141/

Nokia Lumia 520

Nokia Lumia 520 Review

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It’s Nokia’s cheapest Windows Phone 8 device, takes the company’s latest range to five models, and borrows some of the style from its bigger siblings, but can the Lumia 520 compete with cheap Android? Unveiled alongside the Lumia 720 at Mobile World Congress, the 520 slots in at the entry-level with a few compromises along the way to reach its sub-€150 unsubsidized price. Have the cut corners left the baby Lumia lacking? Read on for our review.

Hardware

Cheap doesn’t always mean cheerful, though Nokia has some impressive form in the segment: its track record in squeezing the best margins out of its production lines has resulted in surprising gems like the Lumia 620. For the Lumia 520, you get a Snapdragon S4 dualcore running at 1GHz and 512MB of RAM, just like the 720, as well as 8GB of onboard storage and a microSD card slot to add to it.
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https://www.slashgear.com/nokia-lumia-520-review-18278191/

AT&T LG Optimus G Pro Review

AT&T LG Optimus G Pro Review

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The LG Optimus G Pro brings a massive upgrade to the LG Optimus G, a device put together so well that Google decided to use it for its most recent hero smartphone, the Nexus 4. The LG Optimus G Pro has been released internationally with essentially the same hardware build as you’re seeing here, AT&T’s additions being largely app-centric. That leaves the same high-powered processor, 5.5-inch display, and collection of odd software abilities that draw us in just as much as they did in the original.

Hardware

Up front of the LG Optimus G Pro is a 1080 x 1920 pixel display across 5.5-inches of IPS LCD. This equals 400 PPI resolution and the same amount of pixels the HTC One and the Samsung GALAXY S 4 have spread over a slightly larger area. The display reaches out to the sides of the device with a bezel that’s extremely narrow, this giving the phone the illusion of having a near-edge-to-edge screen.
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https://www.slashgear.com/att-lg-optimus-g-pro-review-04280364/

OPPO Find 5 Review

OPPO Find 5 Review

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The smartphone OPPO Find 5 was a surprise to behold when it first left the box here on the SlashGear review bench, mostly because when a relatively unknown smartphone brand delivers a package that appears to be too good to be true, it generally is. Here with OPPO Find 5’s 5-inch display at 1080p, a Qualcomm quad-core processor, and a 13 megapixel camera connected at its center by a unique user interface, it seemed as though the company had created a pretty nice beast. The packaging certainly does the device some favors as well.

Hardware

This smartphone is a rather interesting amalgamation of plastic and glass. It feels thin and smooth to the touch – the back is a single sheet of hard plastic without pattern while the front has a single pane of reinforced glass. The front has three capacitive buttons, not quite jumping in on the trend Google has been pushing with on-screen buttons quite yet.
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https://www.slashgear.com/oppo-find-5-review-06280773/

BlackBerry Q10 Review

BlackBerry Q10 Review

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The BlackBerry Q10 might not have been the first BlackBerry 10 smartphone to reach the market, but with its classic QWERTY keyboard it’s arguably the first proper new BlackBerry. Blending the new OS with both a touchscreen and the sort of physical text-entry functionality that BlackBerry addicts have been swearing by for years, the Q10 promises to bridge the gap between the Brave New World of touch and those for whom stabbing out an email reply wouldn’t be complete without the crackle of tiny keys. Does that make it the missing link in smartphones, or just a bygone of an era that ought to be forgotten? Read on for our full review.

Hardware

The Q10 may be outwardly very different from the first BlackBerry 10 device, the all-touch Z10, but internally it’s pretty much the same device. The 1.5GHz dualcore Snapdragon S4 Plus processor paired with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, are all identical, along with the microSD card slot, 8-megapixel rear camera, and 2-megapixel front camera. The Q10 also has WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, and NFC, along with a microHDMI port (which will need an adapter, not included, to plug into a regular HDMI input) alongside a microUSB port.

blackberry_q10_review_1

The key difference is obvious, however. Where the Z10 has a 4.2-inch 1280 x 768 display, the Q10 shrinks that down to 3.1-inches and 720 x 720 resolution; it also uses an AMOLED panel, rather than the LCD of the Z10. Using a smaller screen leaves room for the Q10’s four row keyboard – more on which in the next section – that spans the entire width of the phone.

Overall, it’s a broad but stubby device, at 2.62-inches across filing your palm more than the 2.58-inch Z10, but shorter at 4.7-inches. Accommodating a physical keyboard does make for a thicker phone, however, at 0.4-inches, and a slightly heavier one, at 4.9oz. The weight is nicely spread, however, meaning it doesn’t feel top-heavy when you’re typing, and it’s easy to shift your fingers between the QWERTY and the touchscreen.

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https://www.slashgear.com/blackberry-q10-review-11281446/

Motorola DROID XYBOARD 8.2 Review

Motorola DROID XYBOARD 8.2 Review

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

 

This week we’ve seen two Motorola tablets, both of them with essentially the same name DROID XYBOARD, this the smaller of the two at 8.2-inches in screen size. While the 10.1-inch display sized iteration costs a bit more and does afford you a bit more screen real-estate, what you’re about to see is an account that’ll let you know how little you’re missing when you go with the slightly more convenient sized 8.2. That and we’ve got a couple of accessories to peek at as well. Also note that if you’re looking for the 10.1-inch version, you’ve only to check out the timeline after the second paragraph to head on down the rabbit hole.

This is the next step in the Motorola like of devices, and not just in the tablet lineup, in the dual-core and above lineup as well. Starting with the Motorola Atrix at the start of 2011, the dual-core processor-toting handset craze began, and with it Motorola started their lineup of dual-port-toting smart devices that continues to this day. The XYBOARD is the latest Motorola tablet to fit into this puzzle.

The Atrix and the Motorola XOOM were the first to have a microUSB and a microHDMI port at the bottom of them, and starting with this most recent wave of Motorola devices including the Photon, Atrix 2, Droid RAZR, Droid 3, and the XYBOARD tablets, the ports are equally spaced, allowing you to use basically any Motorola accessory with any Motorola Android device. Without getting too in-depth on that wavelength, this is a device that Motorola considers part of its own evolving family, one that does not necessarily need to compete with the rest of the Android world.

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https://www.slashgear.com/motorola-droid-xyboard-8-2-review-17203029/

ASUS Transformer Prime with Android 4.0 ICS review

ASUS Transformer Prime with Android 4.0 ICS review

Tablets, , , , , ,

 

The first tablet on earth to be licensed by Google to officially be running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is the ASUS Transformer Prime, and we’ve got it running slick here in a full review for you. This tablet has been out for some weeks now, but has just been updated officially to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich this month. As we found at CES 2012, this tablet/transformer device has indeed worked with Google to make this happen, and you’ll see the speed and excellence therein because of it. Also before you begin be sure to check out our full Transformer Prime review to see the rest of the capabilities of this machine.

The build you’re seeing here is what you’ll get when you update your ASUS Transformer Prime to ICS, and the first thing you’ll see is that it’s not Vanilla. The way ASUS has worked with Android 4.0 is in a way that makes it NEARLY Vanilla, that is completely unmodified by the manufacturer, but they’ve done some cool changes themselves. They’ve not only done a good job in not taking too much out or adding too much back in in this build, and you’ll see right away that the system is slick as ever.
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https://www.slashgear.com/asus-transformer-prime-with-android-4-0-ics-review-25210727/

Motorola DROID XYBOARD 10.1 Review

Motorola DROID XYBOARD 10.1 Review

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

 

When it comes to tablet warfare, Motorola seemed to get out in the open with a weapon of mass excellence with the XOOM pretty early, it being the first to run Android 3.0 Honeycomb, the first Android made specifically for the tablet form factor – now they’ve come back with the XOOM 2 aka the DROID XYBOARD and we’re not so sure it’s the same ground-breaking situation. What we’ve got here instead is certainly a solid package, this XYBOARD 10.1making some improvements over the original XOOM, especially in form if you were one of the many people who said the XOOM was a hunk of metal with no style, (note: I was not one of those people, I still think the XOOM looks pretty awesome for the workhorse that it is,) and with LTE right out of the box, the XYBOARD provides the promise that the original XOOM took much MUCH to long to deliver on: 4G LTE connectivity. But is it enough for Motorola enthusiasts to want to upgrade from their first 10.1-inch love?

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https://www.slashgear.com/motorola-droid-xyboard-10-1-review-14202096/

ASUS Transformer Prime Review

ASUS Transformer Prime Review

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

 

Welcome to the next generation of Android tablets – where the year 2011 has been dominated utterly by the dual-core processor by the name of Tegra 2, so too does NVIDIA hold the next keys to the kingdom with the quad-core processor Tegra 3, and this is the city which you’ll love to explore: the ASUS Transformer Prime. What you’re going to get is a 10.1-inch tablet made with Gorilla Glass, radial spun Aluminum, a best-in-class Super IPS+ display, and an optional keyboard dock that brings you to the next generation of mobile: transforming devices. Will this slate / notebook Transformer Prime convince you that it’s time to join the tablet world, finally, after all this time? We shall see!

Hardware

The magic in this device is not only in its keyboard dock, but once you get a taste of the ta on its own, its hard to resist the desire to own what basically amounts to the other half of it. Battery life essentially doubles when you’ve got both pieces and with this connection you’ve got the next generation of device in your hands today: a notebook with a touchscreen. Of course to make it all worth it, you’ve got to have an operating system that’ll back it all up – we’ll chat about that a bit more in the Software portion of this review. For now, have a peek at this very clean, modern looking bit of equipment:
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https://www.slashgear.com/asus-transformer-prime-review-02199429/

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 LTE Review

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 LTE Review

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

 

The size range of Android-based devices Samsung has made over the past year is far and away the largest any manufacturer has yet achieved, and if you’re unable to find the screen size you desire at the moment, you likely have only to wait another week or month and poof! It will appear. That said, it appears that the Galaxy Tab 7.7 has appeared here in the USA in an LTE edition made specifically for Verizon, and having taken a glance at every single other display size in the lineup I can comfortably say the following: this is one of the best.

Hardware

This device is small enough to fit in your purse or carry-along sack, but a bit too large to fit in your pocket. The mid-range is still dominated by the original Galaxy Note, and the “full-size tablet” is still sitting at 10.1-inches – this 7.7-inch tablet is perfect for someone who doesn’t need access to the device 24 hours a day but wants to keep a slightly lower profile than they would be if they’d be whipping out the 10-inch tablet all day long.
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https://www.slashgear.com/samsung-galaxy-tab-7-7-lte-review-04216701/

Sony Tablet P

Sony Tablet P Review

Tablets, , , , , , ,

 

In a tablet market that’s flooded with similar offerings comes Sony and their Tablet P. With a unique clamshell design they can call their own that we’ve never seen from an Android this is truly a one-of-a-kind tablet. Is it worth the money or just an interesting wannabe Nintendo DS? We first heard about it back last year but now that it’s available from AT&T lets dive into the full SlashGear review and see what we think.

To jump right in I’ll start by saying the Sony Tablet P is available today, right now from AT&T for $399 and a 2-year contract, or for $549 contract free. With dual screens, cores, and cameras it makes for one interesting device to say the least. Is the Tablet P practical though? That is the question. Check out our hands-on first, then enjoy the rest of the review.
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https://www.slashgear.com/sony-tablet-p-review-09217783/