Monthly Archives: May 2015

Alienware Area 51 M9750 review – Media powerhouse

Alienware Area 51 M9750 review – Media powerhouse

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

An Alienware computer is a mythical beast. Ever since Alienware started making computers in 1996, gamers and power hungry PC addicts have drooled over their speed, processing power, and overall design. This is the first time I’ve ever spent more than a couple hours with an Alienware machine, so I wasn’t truly privy to the finer points of an Alienware. All I can really say is that I’ve never been so impressed with the performance of a notebook computer.

As mentioned in the unboxing, this computer has no spining hard drive. Just two 32GB RAID 0 Solid State Drives. This makes booting the device, and loading large files a super fast process. It’s fairly comparable to a 7200 RPM drive, but without the loss in battery life (and without all of the extra heat). There are a few other options available from Alienware including two 64GB drives in RAID 0, for a combined capacity of 128GB.

With 2 GB of DDR2-667 RAM (up to 4GB available), and a Intel Core 2 DUO T7200 2.0 GHz processor, you won’t have any problems running the latest memory hungry applications (or operating systems). And the 512MB Nvidia GeForce 8700m GT GPU will boost your imaging, 3D rendering, and general visual experience in the Windows Vista environment.
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https://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/alienware-area-51-m7950

Samsung Galaxy S6 Active may have a QHD screen for underwater luxury

Phones, , , , , , , , , , , ,
Typically we expect rugged smartphones to trade specs for protection, but that doesn’t seem to be the case with the Samsung Galaxy S6 Active, as it’s looking increasingly likely that the phone will have a QHD 1440 x 2560 screen.

A user agent profile for a phone believed to be the Galaxy S6 Active has been spotted by Napidroid.hu and it lists a QHD screen for a handset with the model number SM-G890A.

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard rumours of a QHD screen either, so that’s one feature which is looking pretty likely.
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https://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/samsung-galaxy-s6-active-may-have-a-qhd-screen-for-underwater-luxury-1294247

Gateway P-6831FX Gaming Laptop Review

Gateway P-6831FX Gaming Laptop Review

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

Packing a laptop with a full-sized keyboard, screen bigger than many use with their desktop and the sort of specs that gobble through even the most capacious of batteries has always struck me as cheating a little. Call me old fashioned, but I do like my notebook to be portable and my desktop to be sturdy; Gateway, however, weren’t willing to stop at just calling me names. They sent over their 17-inch P-6831FX, resplendent with orange pinstripes and dedicated NVIDIA GeForce graphics, to show that just because a laptop is large, it doesn’t mean it can’t be agile too.

Gateway P-6831FX

Looking at the spec list, it’d be difficult to find the P-6831FX too lacking. An Intel Core 2 Duo T5500 CPU running at 1.66GHz, 3GB of RAM and a 250GB 5,400rpm Serial ATA hard drive are coupled with a GeForce Go 8800GTS graphics card bearing it own 512MB of GDDR3 memory; that pushes the 17-inch WXGA+ Ultrabright display up to 1440 x 900, or alternatively squirts out via the HDMI v1.2 port. An 8x dual-layer DVD re-writer, fingerprint reader, 1.3-megapixel webcam, a/b/g/draft-N WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR and gigabit ethernet round out the hardware, and OS duties are handled by Vista Home Premium.
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https://www.slashgear.com/gateway-p-6831fx-gaming-laptop-review-1810786/

Lenovo ThinkPad X300 Review – MacBook Air killer?

Lenovo ThinkPad X300 Review – MacBook Air killer?

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

Lenovo probably wouldn’t admit it, but you get the impression they’re quite pleased with how they managed to crash the ultraportable party. Apple’s achingly-thin MacBook Air seemingly had just scant moments to enjoy the limelight, before leaked detailsof Lenovo’s own, Windows based rebuke, the X300, started to turn up. Before long, the company was putting out adverts surreptitiously suggesting that the Air’s compromises for extreme thinness and lack of connectivity meant that, unlike the DVD and ethernet toting X300, it couldn’t quite be called a “fully featured” ultraportable. It’s rare for a Windows machine manufacturer to try to so resolutely dismiss Apple – there’s usually at least a grudging respect – so when Lenovo sent an X300 to SlashGear we were keen to see how well it lived up to the claims.

Lenovo X300 - 22mm thick

Measuring 317 x 226 x 22mm and weighing 1.45kg, the X300 has roughly the same footprint as the MacBook Air but adds a few millimetres thickness (the Air’s depth is a much-quoted 4-19.4mm, while it weighs a little less than the X300 at 1.36kg). Lenovo make good use of that extra space, though; our review unit has a 1.20GHz Intel Core 2 Duo L7100 (800Mhz FSB, 4MB Cache) processor, Intel X3100 graphics, 2GB of RAM (4GB max supported), 64GB SSD, a DVD burner, a/b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, gigabit ethernet and an internal 3G WWAN modem. Round the edges are 3 USB ports, a D-SUB monitor port, headphone and microphone sockets (doubling as line-out and line-in), while the matte-finish 13.3-inch WXGA+ 1440 x 900 LED backlit display is crowned by an integrated 1.3-megapixel webcam and noise-cancelling microphone. Compared to the Air’s measly one USB, monitor port (albeit DVI-I) and headphone socket, the X300 is far more like a full-sized machine.
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https://www.slashgear.com/

HTC One M10: what we want to see

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The HTC One M9 is beautiful, powerful and (whisper it) just a little bit disappointing. With a downgraded battery, a middling camera and an overly familiar design and feature set it couldn’t continue HTC’s run of five star reviews.

So it’s clear that HTC needs to do some soul-searching before it launches the One M10 and work out how to come back with a bang.

But we’re feeling generous, so we’ve come up with a few suggestions of our own to help the Taiwanese company get started, as well as highlighting the few rumors we’re already hearing about the HTC One M10.
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https://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/htc-10-1318627/review

Acer Aspire Switch 10

Acer Aspire Switch 10 E Launches in Malaysia

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

2-in-1 tablet/notebook comes with 1-year of Office 365 Personal Edition.

Acer Malaysia has announced that their 2-in-1 hybrid notebook/tablet, the Aspire Switch 10 E, is now available for sale in the country.

As seen in our hands-on preview, the notebook will be available in two versions: one with just 64GB of storage, the other with 32GB + 500GB storage drive. Both notebooks will retail at RM1099 and RM1399 respectively.

The new Aspire Switch 10 E is powered by an Intel Atom Quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and Windows 8.1 OS along with 1-year subscription to Office 365 Personal edition. It has a 10.1″ display with a resolution of 1280 x 800, and comes with a 8060 mAh battery that promises up to 12 hours of battery life. The Aspire Switch 10 E is available in five eye-catching colors: Moonstone White, Shark Grey, Peacock Blue, Magenta Pink, and Coral Red.

(l-r) Karen Chow, Head of MNC and Mobile, Intel Malaysia and Singapore; Johnson Seet, Head of Mobile Notebook & Smart Handheld of Acer; Ricky Tan, Managing Director of Acer Sales and Services Sdn Bhd; and Darren Ryan, Director of PC Category Management, Microsoft APAC.

In conjunction with the device’s launch, Acer Malaysia also opened a new concept store at Quill City Mall, a shopping center located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Acer Concept Store aims to be a convenient service acceptance point for all Acer customers, selling various Acer products such as monitors, tablets, smartphones, desktops and notebooks. More Acer Concept Stores will be opened in Mid Valley Megamall and The Mines soon.
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https://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/acer-aspire-switch-10-e-1291809/review

Toshiba Satellite M305-S4826 Notebook Review

Toshiba Satellite M305-S4826 Notebook Review

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

Toshiba’s Satellite range went through a shake-up back in April, arguably in an attempt to bring some of the multimedia Qosmiogloss to its more bread & butter machines. Out went drab casings and middle of the road specs, replaced with a stylish new design and the promise of healthy performance. SlashGear has been taking a look at the Toshiba Satellite M305-S4826, a fixed-spec notebook running Intel’s T8100 Core 2 Duo processor with 3GB of RAM and a 14.1-inch WXGA display capable of 720p high-definition. The 14-inch laptop space is a hotly contested one: can this particular Satellite stand out?

First impressions – by which we mean the moment before you actually touch the M305 – are good. Toshiba call the finish on this particular laptop “Fusion” with an “Horizon pattern”; we’d call it metallic silver with black pinstripes, but either way it’s a far better look than the last-generation of machines. The keyboard too has had its own makeover, buffed to a high-gloss. As soon as you touch it, though, the M305 gets a whole lot more frustrating: there’s no biometric scanner, but the notebook certainly saves your fingerprints. Just about the only non-gloss part of the notebook that you’ll commonly touch is the trackpad, which sits flush with the wrist-rest and is matte and slightly textured.
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https://www.slashgear.com/toshiba-satellite-m305-s4826-notebook-review-0811939/

Gateway M-152XL 15.4-inch notebook: Unboxing & Review

Gateway M-152XL 15.4-inch notebook: Unboxing & Review

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

In a week when full-sized notebooks have wrenched back the focus from their budget ultraportable brethren, we’ve had Gateway’s M-152XL on the SlashGear test bench. With a 15.4-inch widescreen display, Intel Core 2 Duo T8300 processor and separate ATI Mobility Radeon graphics, packed into a 6.2 pound chassis, Gateway’s latest is really looking to take pride of place as a desktop replacement. It’s a competitive niche in the sector, though, so is the M-152XL up to the task?

Gateway M-152XL 15.4-inch notebook: Unboxing & Review

With no pretence toward extreme portability, the M-152XL has to earn its keep with affordable grunt. The sticker price of $1,299 puts it firmly in amongst Dell’s M1530, Toshiba’s A305 and HP’s Pavillion dv6700, all of which – on paper at least – seem very similar; however, as of writing, Gateway are offering $300 off the notebook, bringing it down to just $999. Gateway have packed the M-152XL’s broad casing with Intel’s Core 2 Duo T8300 2.4GHz CPU, an ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600 with 512MB GDDR3 dedicated memory, a healthy 3GB of 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM and a 160GB 7,200rpm SATA HDD courtesy of Seagate. The 15.4-inch WXGA Ultrabright display runs at 1280 x 800. Otherwise, there’s a slot-loading 8x DVD burner, 5-in-1 memory card reader and a 1.3-megapixel webcam in the screen bezel. Connectivity is via WiFi a/b/g/draft-n and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, as well as three USB and an HDMI port.
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https://www.slashgear.com/gateway-m-152xl-154-inch-notebook-unboxing-review-1112007/

ASUS Eee PC 901 Linux Edition Review

ASUS Eee PC 901 Linux Edition Review

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

If the ASUS Eee 900 basically amounted to a larger-screened version of the 7-inch original, then the Eee 901 marks its graduation into a distinct model.  Packing Intel’s latest 1.6GHz Atom N270 processor, in place of the 900’s Celeron 900MHz, ASUS could reasonably have left the rest of the notebook the same and simply added a little to the price.  Thankfully they’ve subjected the 901 to a mild degree of fettling, tweaking case and controls and making for a markedly more attractive proposition.  ASUS sent over the Windows version of the 901; check out what exactly impressed us after the cut.

ASUS Eee PC 901 Linux Edition Review

The Eee range needs little introduction.  Kicking off with the 7-inch original, in 2G Surf, 4G Surf, 4G and 8G forms, ASUS followed up with the 8.9-inch 900.  Most recently – and delayed courtesy of Intel’s Atom CPU shortage – the 901 replaced the 900, and ASUS also introduced the 1000 and 1000H, both with 10-inch screens.
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https://www.slashgear.com/asus-eee-pc-901-linux-edition-review-2412220/

Acer Aspire One netbook

Acer Aspire One netbook

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

While there’s no shortage of variety in the netbook market, one of the most commonly recommended – and certainly most commonly searched for here on SlashGear – is the Acer Aspire One.  With a slick casing, brand name recognition and relatively large degree of flexibility in specifications, even with new rivals from Dell and others, Acer is holding its own.  We’ve had the Aspire One in for the past fortnight to put it through its paces; check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.

Announced in June 2008, Acer offers multiple versions of their netbook.  Each uses Intel’s N270 1.6GHz Atom processor, but it can be paired with either 512MB or 1GB of RAM, and a choice of either an 8GB SSD or 120GB or 160GB hard-drive.  Operating system is either Windows XP Home or Linpus Linux Lite, and there are several color options.  Battery can either be a three-cell or six-cell pack.
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https://www.slashgear.com/

Toshiba Satellite A305-S6864

Toshiba Satellite A305-S6864 Review

Computers & IT, , , , , , ,

The Toshiba Satellite A305 S6864 is an appealing laptop with modern look. First thing to notice are the high-gloss surfaces from screen cover to the entire keyboard area. The unit has rounded edges and is finished with reflective grey metallic hematite stripes and a beautiful piano-black keyboard. Oddly enough, these stripes and glossy surfaces are more resistant to fingerprints compared to the Toshiba X205 we reviewed in February. Back then we couldn’t honestly recommend the X205 due to its outmoded HD DVD drive; will the A305 suffer a similar fate?

Toshiba Satellite A305 S6864

Build quality is excellent, most areas have a solid feel with no sign of squeaking or creaking. As usual there are LED indicators from power, HDD access and battery charging status. Multimedia is taken care of by a pair of harmon-kardon speakers with LED illuminated touch-sensitive multimedia keys above the keyboard. When you touch one of the keys, the LED shuts off and then fades back on slowly; it’s pointless in practical terms, but attractive in action.
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https://www.slashgear.com/

Apple MacBook Review – Late 2008 Model

Apple MacBook Review – Late 2008 Model

Computers & IT, , , , , , , ,

Of all the things Apple should be blessing Steve Jobs’ Reality Distortion Field for, it’s the perennial success of the MacBook despite not having undergone a serious update in more than two years. As Jobs himself declared at the notebook’s launch, the MacBook remains the best selling Macintosh; no RDF was necessary when faced with the new aluminum model’s design.  It’s not, however, the $800 notebook some were predicting – and even more hoping for – so where does this mini-MacBook Pro fit in?

For many people they’ll want it to fit in their bag, or on their desk, or in their hands – anywhere, in fact, where they can touch it.  There’s no denying Apple’s strength in industrial design, especially when they have a new, glossy manufacturing method to publicize alongside it.  The 1.5-pound casing is hewn, sliced and buffed from a great hunk of aluminum, leaving something only a little thicker than the MacBook Air at 12.8 x 8.9 x 0.95 inches (the Air is a mere 0.7-inches thick).  Into that, Apple pour a heady mixture of the latest ULV Core 2 Duo chipset and NVIDIA graphics, topped off with a multitouch trackpad and lashings of glass.
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https://www.slashgear.com/unboxing-macbook-air-late-2008-model-2223842/

Macbook Pro Review – Late 2008 Model

Macbook Pro Review – Late 2008 Model

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

As Apple’s flagship laptop, the MacBook Pro arguably has an easier time than the MacBook. With a reputation of superlative performance and style, the Pro is targeted at an audience who, to stereotype a little, has higher priorities than budget than those looking at the MacBook segment. It’s a double-edged sword, though: since the last MacBook Pro refresh the laptop has faced fresh competition from Voodoo’s slick, niche range, as well as capable (if a touch more mainstream) models from HP, Lenovo and others. Apple’s retort is a MacBook Air-inspired casing and dual-graphics; is it enough to keep the MacBook Pro on top?

Design and Constructions

The two new MacBooks both share a common manufacturing technique, whereby solid chunks of aluminum are pared down until scant casings remain. It’s an alluring concept – a unibody, Apple call it, though of course there is more than one piece to the case as a whole – and a durable one, producing something more solid than just about any other normal notebook. To that aluminum start is added glass and backlit plastic; glass for the screen, a 15-inch 1,440 x 900 panel, and the multitouch trackpad, while the Pro’s keyboard takes the same design cues as that of the MacBook Air.
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https://www.slashgear.com/macbook-pro-review-late-2008-model-2019617/

Asus Eee PC 1000HA Review

Asus Eee PC 1000HA Review

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

The choice of ASUS Eee PC models keeps getting larger, and the company shows little sign of stopping until there’s a netbook variant for every individual person on the planet. On the SlashGear desk today is the Eee PC 1000HA, part of the company’s largest 1000-series netbooks but coming in at the relatively bargain price of $429.99. Could this be the best balance of budget and functionality to date?

Your $430 gets you a 10-inch WSVGA 1024 x 600 display with LED backlight, Intel’s 1.6GHz single-core Atom processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM and a 160GB 5,400rpm hard-drive. Like just about every other netbook there’re three USB 2.0 ports, a VGA output, audio in/out sockets, ethernet and a memory card reader (in this case an SDHC-compatible SD card slot). The 1000HA drops the draft-N wireless of the 1000H, and the Bluetooth, but keeps WiFi b/g, the 1.3-megapixel webcam and the 6-cell, 6600mAh battery pack. OS is Windows XP Home, and the whole thing measures 10.47 x 7.53 x 1.12-1.50 inches and weighs 3lbs 2.05oz including the battery.
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https://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/asus-eee-pc-1000h-418757/review

Sony VAIO TT Review

Sony VAIO TT Review

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

In a world of $250 netbooks and credit crunch, is there a place for a high-end ultraportable that, in its peak configuration, costs $4,345?  That’s the question Sony – and plenty of others – are asking about the new Vaio TT, its latest luxury notebook.  A carbon fiber chassis, WWAN, Blu-ray and RAID options all draw upon the latest technology available, but have they over estimated the market?  SlashGear pulled on a pair of museum-standard gloves, buffed the test bench to a dull sheen, and prepared to find out.

Let’s get one thing straight: not every VAIO TT costs almost $4.4k.  The model Sony sent us is the VGN-TT190UBX, complete with a 256GB SSD RAID-1 array, Blu-ray burner and the maximum 4GB of DDR3 RAM.  Other models in the range – which starts from $2,144.99 – have the same 11.1-inch widescreen XBRITE-DuraView 1366 x 768 display, the same twin USB 2.0 ports, gigabit ethernet, HDMI, iLink Firewire and VGA outputs, and the same 1.3-megapixel webcam.  Every TT has Bluetooth, WiFi a/b/g/n, a fingerprint scanner and ExpressCard slot, as well as Memory Stick PRO and SD readers.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/sony-vaio-tt-review/

Panasonic tosses all its latest tech into the Lumix G7 ILC

Cameras, , , , ,

 

The G7 will be available in black only and a two-tone graphite and black, in a variety of kits worldwide: one with a 14-42mm lens, one with a 14-140mm lens, one with both lenses, and one with no lenses. However, in the US we’ll only offically get the 14-42mm ($800) and 14-140mm ($1,100) kits. I don’t have prices for other regions yet, but those convert to £509/AU$995 and £700/AU$1,370.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/panasonic-lumix-g7-preview/

HP Mini 1000 Review

HP Mini 1000 Review

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

With the recent boom in the popularity of Netbooks, providing customers with the most cost effective way to get on the Internet without adding all of the extra software is what a lot of consumers are looking for. Most of us have a desktop PC that we do most of our work and browsing on, the cost of purchasing a laptop to surf the web while on the go can be a bit to much in these trying times. Hp took this into consideration when creating the successor the Mini-Note 2133, the HP Mini 1000. HP has taken the slick design and brilliant construction of the Mini-Note 2133 and made it surprisingly affordable.

Starting at $399 you can pick up the Internet ready HP Mini 1000 without breaking the bank. If your looking to spend a little more you can get a very worthy upgrade from an 8.9” screen to 10.2” for $50. You can also add Bluetooth and an HP Mini VGA webcam. When purchasing this notebook you can choose from and 8GB Solid State Drive, 16GB Solid State Drive or 60GB 4200RPM PATA Hard Drive.  Available storage space is where the Mini 1000 falls behind the Mini-Note 2133 and its available 4GB, 120GB and 160GB hard drives. All models come with 1GB of ram and an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 with 1.60GHz Intel Atom Processor N270. When you order online you also have the option to purchase an HP Mini Mobile drive in 2GB, 4GB or 8GB sizes.
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https://www.slashgear.com/hp-mini-1000-gets-touchscreen-mod-video-2053042/

Verizon Galaxy Nexus Hands-on

Verizon Galaxy Nexus Hands-on

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

After weeks of waiting, the Verizon Galaxy Nexus LTE has finally arrived. It’s hardly an unfamiliar phone – after all, we reviewed the HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus back in November, coming away charmed by its combination of 720p HD display and Ice Cream Sandwich OS – but it brings with it a few advantages and a few potential compromises too. 4G means high-speed downloads on a par with what many people expect from their home broadband connection, assuming you have the coverage, but we’ve also grown used to LTE phones chewing through battery life in record time. Read on for our first impressions.

Head-on, and the Verizon version of the Galaxy Nexus looks no different to the GSM model. You still get the same 1280 x 720 Super AMOLED HD display and 2-megapixel front facing camera, with a gently curved “Contour Display” doing a little to help those with regular sized hands stretch their thumb all the way to the top of the screen.

[su_youtube url=”https://youtu.be/0sbJQwFpnuQ”]
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https://www.slashgear.com/verizon-galaxy-nexus-hands-on-15202606/
Verizon Galaxy Nexus Review

Verizon Galaxy Nexus Review

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Here in the LTE version of the newest Google hero phone, the Verizon Galaxy Nexus (also known as the Samsung Galaxy Nexus or Galaxy Nexus 4G LTE) has not only the unique claim to running Google’s newest mobile operating system Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich first, it’s also connected to the fastest network in the states, and best of all: you can go to your corner Verizon store and purchase one, unlike the international edition. All that said, you’ve really got the same device only ever so slightly modified for this particular carrier: Google’s vanilla hero phone remains nearly as pure as its first release internationally. What you’re going to get here is another perspective on the Galaxy Nexus in general, how ICS handles our day to day, and what it means to own the LTE version of this device here in the USA.
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https://www.slashgear.com/verizon-galaxy-nexus-review-21203102/

 

ZTE Tania Preview

ZTE Tania Preview

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

ZTE isn’t a name most smartphone shoppers would recognize, but the company has ambitions to change all that with the ZTE Tania. A 4.3-inch Windows Phone 7 device, the Tania aims to deliver not only all that Microsoft OS goodness you’ve come to love, but at a price that significantly undercuts rivals. The unit we’ve been using since last week is final hardware but non-final software, hence this being a preview and not a full review, but it’s still enough to get an early take on what ZTE hopes will be a smartphone game-changer in more ways than one.

Hardware

We can’t say ZTE’s styling has exactly blown us away. In fact, the Tania proved instantly reminiscent of another game-changer: 2008’sTouch HD by HTC. Comparisons of its new Windows Phone to an aging Windows Mobile device probably isn’t what ZTE had in mind, but the soft-touch but plain plastic back cover, along with the squared-off fascia suggest the company may have some way to go before its design chops match up to those of Apple, Samsung and others.
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https://www.slashgear.com/zte-tania-preview-18209727/

Nokia Lumia 710 review

Nokia Lumia 710 review

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In the Nokia Lumia 710 carried by T-Mobile comes the first push by Nokia to re-enter the United States mobile market with Windows Phone in tow, and with this little gem comes a broad sweep for the middle market including those switching from other operating systems to Microsoft’s mobile OS for the first time as well as those brand new to smartphones. What you’ll find is that this device which has already been released with heavy discounts down to absolutely free on contract is a solid smartphone, complete with all the bits you’d expect from a top-of-mid-range device. Will this little beast be the first herald for the oncoming storm of Nokia power?

Hardware

Nokia has presented the world with a Windows Phone that’s got the backing of a well-known manufacturer mixed now with a relatively new but recognizable brand for smartphones. What Nokia is bringing to the party here is a device with a fabulous feel and a high-quality build that will have purchasers of the more expensive Windows Phone devices on the market saying “wait, why did I pay all this money when that free Nokia phone is just as sweet?” It’s got a pretty excellent camera on the back (just 5 megapixels, but nice nonetheless, read more below), the front has a display that’s the perfect size for accessing it in its entirety with just one hand’s thumb, and the plastic is smooth and high-class feeling to the touch.
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https://www.slashgear.com/t-mobile-nokia-710-review-23210372/

Spectrum by LG Review

Spectrum by LG Review

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Welcome to Verizon’s most high-definition LTE device on the market right now, the Spectrum by LG, complete with a massive True HD IPS display at 4.5-inches and 720 x 1280 pixels. It’s certainly not a short device, made to fit in the palm of your adult-sized hand and weigh in at next to nothing (142g) as it shows off its fabulously bright front and powerfully backed-up interior with its dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon processor from Qualcomm. Is this the nicest LTE device on the market today?

Hardware

While LG does still have one of my favorite devices ever in the G2X released last year, this device feels a bit large for the average citizen. Certainly consider whether you need all the extra space in this gigantic four and half inch display before you go purchasing it, especially since your thumb wont be able to reach the other end of your screen without assistance of your other hand. When playing games and watching video though, this display is top of class. The camera also has us dazzled and is certainly up there in the top 10 cameras thus produced on a smartphone.
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https://www.slashgear.com/spectrum-by-lg-review-27211085/

Motorola MOTOLUXE Preview

Motorola MOTOLUXE Preview

Phones, , , , , , , , ,

Motorola has been pushing the high-end in Android phones for a while now, coaxing early-adopters out of their shells with LTE marvels like the DROID RAZR and the DROID 4, but theMOTOLUXE shows it hasn’t forgotten the entry-level market. Solid and middle-of-the-road is usually the route for affordable devices; still, Motorola hasn’t been able to resist slapping a great big lamp on the front, just for some eye-candy. Is this the best budget Android phone around, or just a wannabe RAZR with a bad case of bloat? Check out our preview after the cut.

Hardware

For a “budget” minded device, the MOTOLUXE actually has some of the most successful industrial design we’ve seen from Motorola for a while now. There’s none of the clamorous title-chasing of the look-how-thin-I-am DROID RAZR, just a soft-touch monoblock which feels sturdy and creak-free. It’s a nice compromise on scale, too – the 4-inch display makes for a phone good for web-browsing and multimedia playback, but not so large as to monopolize your hand, pocket or purse. It’s important to note that this is a pre-final device – hence the preview, rather than a full review.
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https://www.slashgear.com/motorola-motoluxe-preview-08212571/

Motorola DROID 4 Review

Motorola DROID 4 Review

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Finally the one-two-three punches of Verizon’s 4G LTE, a dual-core processor, and an 8 megapixel camera capable of 1080p video has come to the DROID line of QWERTY keyboard-having Android devices. Those of you who are die-hard fans of the DROID line know that Verizon and Motorola have dipped in a few devices that strayed from the original power combo complete with QWERTY and may have had hard luck picking up the DROID 3 which, despite its having a decent processor and a fair but not too fantastic camera on the back, had no LTE and was released when Motorola’s user interface change-over was at a bit of a strange point. Now the QWERTY DROID line is back and stronger than ever, and if you’re not a person who minds the massiveness of the chassis here, you’re in for a treat.

Hardware

The display here is a massive 540 x 960 pixels on 4-inches of space, putting this device at 275 pixels per inch. That’s quite impressive when it comes down to it, it being not quite as rich with pixels as the Galaxy Nexus (at 316 ppi) but certainly ready to contend with the DROID RAZR whose same resolution sits on a slightly larger display, putting it at just 256 ppi. At this close range you wont notice the difference unless you’re holding these devices up next to one another, but the difference is there.
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https://www.slashgear.com/motorola-droid-4-review-10212961/

BlackBerry Porsche Design P’9981 Review

BlackBerry Porsche Design P’9981 Review

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At first glance, Porsche Design and BlackBerry might not make obvious bed-fellows. Still, the car firm’s aesthetically-obsessed arm has taken up with Canada’s finest, and the Porsche Design P’9981is the result: maple syrup by way of Stuttgart. The less forgiving might draw comparisons between Porsche’s legendary reluctance to diverge from its original 1963 car design, and BlackBerry’s struggle to break free of its old OS. The frugal will likely be too busy gaping at the $2,350 price tag. So, Porsche or Pinto? Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.

Hardware

Porsche Design starts as it means to go on, with an oversized box first presenting the P’9981 and its desk-stand in one dense foam layer, before revealing different chargers for near-global use, USB cable and headphones, various documentation and your exclusive technical support card, complete with PIN, to access freephone assistance. It’s not quite Vertu’s Concierge, mind; the team will help you set up your P’9981 and figure out its quirks, but not book you theater tickets.
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https://www.slashgear.com/blackberry-porsche-design-p9981-review-14213393/

Galaxy Note for AT&T Review

Galaxy Note for AT&T Review

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The Galaxy Note is no stranger to SlashGear: we reviewed the international version back in November 2011, finding it a curious – and in certain ways compelling – anomaly on the mobile landscape. Since then we’ve had plenty of experience with the oversized smartphone, most recently the arrival of AT&T’s LTE version. Differences between the two are slight, so a full re-review isn’t in order. However, read on for our latest thinking on this smartphone/tablet hybrid, where it stands up, and where – despite what Samsung insists – it falls flat on its 5.3-inch face.

I’ve been carrying both the original international and the new AT&T versions of the Galaxy Note for some time now, and they’re certainly relatively unique in the mobile space. Samsung believes that we’re moving towards a two-handed society, though my own experience is that we’re not there yet. As Samsung sees it, most BlackBerry users are two-handed typers, though I’d argue that the difference there is that RIM’s phones are small enough to still type with one hand, or at least securely grip it without fear of dropping a very expensive device.
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https://www.slashgear.com/galaxy-note-for-att-review-16213710/

Meizu MX Review

Meizu MX Review

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While the Meizu electronics brand isn’t that well known outside of China at the moment, they’re certainly a brand to be reckoned with in the smartphone market, and if the Meizu MX is any indication, they’ll be a whole lot more well known in the very near future. The device you see before you is a high-end Android device made for release in China only, but because of its 2G and 3G network bands, we’re able to use it here in the USA with a micro SIM card from T-Mobile or AT&T, whichever we so choose to pop in. Because of this, the review of this device makes for a rather interesting exercise in testing Meizu on a global scale: can this MX smartphone stand up to the rest of the Android devices here in the USA?

This device is currently available in China and can readily be purchased through carriers and resellers of hardware if you’re in the area. Should you want to use this device in the United States, you’ll want to make sure it’s set for English right out of the box or you may have a bit of trouble (provided you aren’t able to read Mandarin) working with this device’s many interfaces – each of them available in several languages, thus is the power of Android. What you receive here in this unique handset is a high-end experience in both a unique piece of hardware and a unique custom-made user interface working over Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread – with a planned upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich sometime in the future.
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https://www.slashgear.com/meizu-mx-review-19214213/

Samsung Rugby Smart Review

Samsung Rugby Smart Review

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This week we’ve got our hands on the newest Samsung smartphone, and it’s not a dual-core device, a quad-core device, or even a massively impressive in-between device with the ability to take amazing photos – it’s a rugged mid-range device called theSamsung Rugby Smart. This device is a solid and relatively inexpensive smartphone being carried by AT&T at $99.99 on contract with the ability to defend against water, dust, shock, and inclement temperatures. It’s also got at 3.7-inch WVGA SuperAMOLED touchscreen display up front and a 5 megapixel camera on the back.

Hardware

While this device certainly is no match for the rest of the Samsung line of top-tier devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S II, and oddly enough, you can currently purchase the Galaxy S II for the same price on contract from the same carrier. You can either purchase this much less impressive smartphone for $99.99 with its single-core processor or the manufacturer’s hero device for the same price: twice the power in almost every respect. Have a peek at ourAT&T Samsung Galaxy S II review from a few months ago to check out the business.
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https://www.slashgear.com/samsung-rugby-smart-review-05216725/

Sony Xperia S Review

Sony Xperia S Review

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The Sony Xperia S is something of a smartphone stepchild: the first smartphone to bear Sony’s sole brand in recent years, but developed under the loving care of the Sony Ericsson partnership the Japanese company bought itself out of. It certainly ticks a lot of the right boxes – 720p HD display, high-resolution 12.1-megapixel camera and some reasonably distinctive design – but we’ve seen our fair share of Android handsets over-promise and under-deliver. So, hangover from the past or a sign of things to come? Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.

Hardware

Unapologetic in its squared-off, angular heft, the Xperia S is a solid, creak-free slab of a phone finished in soft-touch plastic and neatly recessed glass. Accommodating a 4.3-inch display demands a 5 x 2.5 x 0.4 inch casing, however; this isn’t a small handset, and at 5.1oz it’s reasonably weighty. Most distinctive is the strip of transparent plastic separating the end-cap – which on the Xperia U is interchangeable, but here is fixed – from the body of the smartphone as a whole.
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https://www.slashgear.com/sony-xperia-s-review-07217176/

 

Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G Review

Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G Review

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This week the brand new T-mobile Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G goes on sale with T-Mobile’s own brand of 4G connectivity and aQualcomm S3 dual-core processor under the hood. This device represents what was fantastic throughout 2011, what’s going right with the industry today, and a good look at what it means to pay slightly less cash for a device that by all means should be considered a hero device, but isn’t because there can only be one: the Galaxy S II. You can get this device in the store today – now lets have a heavy look at what it means to own it.

Hardware

This device is fantastic for your everyday average Android user. We’ve reached a point where a dual-core processor like this one has is normal yet the camera isn’t quite as powerful as its siblings. Samsung has done this because with a slightly less powerful camera, a few down-grades from the Samsung Galaxy S II, this device is able to be offered at a relatively low price. That said, you’ll see below that the camera does wonders regardless of its less than the best rating.
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https://www.slashgear.com/samsung-galaxy-s-blaze-4g-review-21219419/