The LG Optimus Black: One Powerful Little Phone

September 2nd, 2011 | Google Android, LG, Mobile Phone Reviews, Mobile Phones

With its sophisticated body and Android Froyo 2.2, the LG Optimus Black combines look and performance, resulting in a first class phone.  It comes with a 4 inch Nova display touchscreen that offers a display quality that surpasses LCD and a list of features that rank the phone above others of its kind.

The Good
The phone carries a number of useful original apps and widgets, while allowing users to access others from the Android store.  It combines speed and userfriendliness, making it easy to access apps like the camera, music library and web radio players.

Users can access messages (emails included) from their locked screens, answer incoming calls just by holding the ‘Gesture’ button while shaking the phone, activate mute simply by flipping it over and move the text cursor by tapping the sides.

The user can video call using a 2mp front camera, or use the 5mp rear camera to capture high quality videos.  Buyers get WI-FI capabilities, USB port, Bluetooth, an eAAC+, ACC+ Wav, AAC and MP3 audio player, H.264, H.263 and MP4 videos are also supported and the 3.5mm headphone jack caters for all.

The Bad
It is not without fault.  Firstly, it is impossible to upgrade from Froyo to Gingerbread (2.3), pictures may be dark since, despite the light sensor, the phone doesn’t recognized light changes also, it may be best to use it on stills.

The Verdict
Overall, its striking resemblance to the iPhone, inability to compete with a host of dual-core smartphones and the absence of HDMI output are among the biggest drawbacks however, the LG Optimus Black is a great phone.

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Android Sat Nav Apps – Where do you want to go?

August 29th, 2011 | Google Android, Mobile Phones, Wireless Devices

Within the highly competitive market of sat nav apps, what can Android sat nav apps offer to the user? The Google Maps Navigation app is free exclusively to Android smartphone users. Features include a bird’s eye view using satellite mode and street-level map access with Google Street View. Other fantastic features of the Android sat nav app Google Maps are its voice control function that allows the user to verbally state directions, and a variety of search choices rather than just a full address search.

Android sat nav apps are offered free to users of Android smartphones in the UK. This means that users have access to not only the excellent and free Google Maps, but also other Android sat nav apps to download at a small cost. This is far cheaper than buying a standalone sat nav. Sygic Aura is one of these highly rated sat nav apps; free to use for the first week, it then costs a relatively small £12.99 in the UK and Ireland. This is an excellent Android sat nav app, which has distinctive and clear displays and instructions, as well as being fast to use.

Perhaps one of the best Android sat nav apps is CoPilot, a live GPS navigating app. Also available for iPhones and iPads, this is consistently rated as one of the best sat nav apps for Android powered phones. Compared favourably with standalone sat nav systems, CoPilot has comprehensive screen displays and is one of the best Android sat nav apps on the market.

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Features of the Palm Pre 2

August 22nd, 2011 | Mobile Phone Reviews, Mobile Phones, Palm, Touchscreen

The Palm Pre 2 is a mobile smartphone from Palm. It is an evolution from the previous Pre model, with several enhancements. The Palm Pre 2 has a Qwerty keyboard, which is its main standout feature from the current crop of smartphones.

If you can get to grips with the Pre’s very small slide-out keyboard you will love this phone. If not, then it may not be the phone for you. It comes with its own operating system, webOS 2.0. The processor has been upgraded to 1GHz, enabling apps to open up speedily. Apps have thumbnails which appear as a ‘deck of cards’ when several are opened, grouped together by type. The touchscreen enables the user to use gestures to activate various options. 

The amount of apps available for the Palm is perhaps its biggest downfall, though Palm is planning to help increase the number of applications that are available. If you love your phone to have lots of different apps then this mobile may not be for you.

Battery life has been improved on the Pre 2, which is now capable of lasting at least one and a half days without charging. The handset offers a five megapixel camera and comes with an LED flash. It has great Wi-Fi support to help browsing the internet. The screen is only around 3.1 inches, but text is easy to read. If you like your phone to have a qwerty keyboard and are not too concerned about accessing a large range of applications then it is worth looking for a good deal on the Palm Pre 2.

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Mobile Phone Manufacturers – Samsung Mobile Phones

August 20th, 2011 | Mobile Phones, Samsung

Samsung is one of the biggest manufacturing firms in the world, being involved in everything from ship building and chemical engineering to home electronics and televisions. Most people will know the company thanks to Samsung mobile phones. The company first moved into the telecommunications industry in the 1980′s and today Samsung is one of the leading manufacturers of mobile phones, smart phones and tablet computers in the world.

During the late 90′s and early 00′s, when many mobile phone manufacturers were attempting to rise to the top of the ever growing mobile phone industry, Samsung made significant gains thanks to sleek design, easy to use phones and innovative technology. The company adopted popular features from other manufacturers such as the inclusion of games and flip phones in order to provide broad appeal and gain a foothold at the top of the industry.

Today, Samsung mobile phones is one of the leading global mobile phone providers and remains at the forefront of new technology. One of the major factors in helping Samsung reach the top of their industry is the fact that rather than build handsets for a specific operating system, Samsung allow many of their leading phones to support a wide range of software, giving them a huge range of distribution channels. However, the company have made great gains by offering Google’s hugely successful Android mobile operating system as standard.

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Google Nexus S – How does it compare?

August 17th, 2011 | Google Android, Mobile Phone Reviews, Mobile Phones, Samsung

The Google Nexus S is a second generation smartphone produced by internet giant Google, and replaced the outgoing Google Nexus handset. The Google Nexus S is an incredibly lightweight phone, weighing in at just 129 grams and yet comes packed with technology such as a 5 megapixel camera and 4′ screen with 235ppi. The handset also sports a lower definition forward facing camera, allowing users to make video calls via 3G networks and VoIP services such as Skype. Most importantly, the Google Nexus S is specifically optimised to take full advantage of Google’s powerful Android mobile phone operating system, and as such the handset is tailored to run the latest version of the software.

People looking for contract Google Nexus S deals can expect to pay between £20 and £40 per month, and for that receive an average of 100-600 free minutes, a minimum of 500 free texts, although most deals offer unlimited messaging and 500MB of data transfer. Most contract Google Nexus S deals also offer the handset for free, although some will require customers to pay between £30 and £50 for the phone itself.

When purchased by itself and outside of a contract deal, the price of a Google Nexus S varies wildly, with retailers offering the handset for anywhere between a fair £300 and a vastly inflated £600. Unfortunately, at the moment there are no pay as you go Google Nexus S deals which offer the handset for a reduced fee.

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The HTC Desire HD: An App Lover’s Dream

August 15th, 2011 | Google Android, HTC, Mobile Phone Reviews, Mobile Phones, Touchscreen

People looking for large HD displays will love the HTC Desire HD’s highly responsive 4.3inch screen.  Encased in a neat metal body, the phone is good looking and sturdy, plus it carries a number of features that leaves other smartphones lacking.

The Advantages
The HTC Desire HD boasts an 8mp camera with dual led flash that offers top quality photos, audio and HD visual players, 3.5mm headphone jack, USB and A2DP Bluetooth technology (v2.1).  The phone also carries 1.5 GB internal memory and uses a microSD card. 

Other perks include the combination of HTC Sense and bespoke Android interfaces which increases usability and access to thinks like Twitter and Facebook integration.  It also carries added security features like htcsense.com which allows users to remotely wipe their phones in the event of loss or theft.

Where it Falls Short
Battery life seems to be the biggest issue for users however, some phones have to charge regularly, while others can go a day or two before charging becomes necessary.  Other drawbacks include weight and size if protective covering is added, occasional freezing after a few downloads, and avid app downloaders could run out of space quickly (one fix is to transfer some to the memory card)

Overview
The device is seen as a main rival for Nokia mobile phones like the E7 and, although it comes down to a matter of opinion in many cases.  Overall the phone is an app lover’s dream and packs a lot of power however; the price may put it out of reach for many.

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BT Total Broadband – packages and deals

August 12th, 2011 | Broadband

About BT

BT is the largest broadband provider in the UK and aims to offer reliable speeds, affordable pricing, business solutions and excellent features.

Packages

The entry-level BT Broadband and Calls package offers up to 20Mb download speed with a monthly limit of 10GB.  The package is free for the first three months, and then costs £13.99 a month for an 18-month contract.  Up to 5GB online storage with BT Digital Vault is included. The router, a home telephone, and a BT ToGo smart mobile are included for free when you order online.

The mid-range BT Talk, Surf and Watch Plus package offers up to 20Mb download speed with a monthly limit of 40GB.  This package costs £17.99 a month for a 24-month contract, and includes all the same extras as with the BT Broadband and Calls package.  Additionally, a Vision + box digital TV recorder and unlimited UK weekend calls are included.

BT Total Option 3 package offers 20Mb download speed and 398Kb upload speed, unlimited usage with a fair usage policy, router, free UK evening and weekend calls, and 5GB online storage.  The minimum contract ties you in for 12 months at a monthly cost of £24.99.

Business Use

BT offers broadband solutions for businesses. The BT Business Office Broadband is aimed at small businesses and comes with a wireless router (£59.00 for signing up online) or £79.00 normally.  The 12-month contract is £16.00 per month plus VAT, while the 24-month contract is £11.00 plus VAT.  Unlimited download options are available for £20.00 per month plus VAT for the 12 month tie-in and £15.00 plus VAT if you sign up for 24 months.

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LG Optimus 2X Review – how does it compare?

August 10th, 2011 | Google Android, LG, Mobile Phone Reviews, Mobile Phones, Touchscreen

The LG Optimus 2X is the world’s first smartphone to feature a dual-core processor.  While this does not make a massive difference in speed to the interface of the phone – high-end smartphones already run seamlessly – it does mean that full 1080p HD video recording is seen for the first time on a phone.  Furthermore, the acceleration of Flash applications means that the LG Optimus 2X seems more like a computer than a phone.  The HDMI connectivity on the Optimus 2X ensures video clips and photos can be viewed on any HD-ready device with outstanding results.  HDMI connectivity is widely tipped to be a standard feature of smartphones in times to come, although LG is one of the first to introduce this feature.

Out of the box, the LG Optimus 2X comes equipped with version 2.2 of Android’s operating system, although Gingerbread can easily be installed via on-screen prompts.  For such a high-performance phone, the size is surprisingly small.  The phone boasts a 4-inch screen, which is of average size for a high-end device, although it is just 9.9mm thick, like the Galaxy S.

One downside to the phone is that LG has only fitted a TFT display rather than the ever-popular super AMOLED screen.  This is rather surprising given LG’s status within the TV world and the performance capabilities of the device.

There is no denying this phone is revolutionary, mainly because of its HD video recording via the 8-megapixel camera, although the other big companies are already working on their answer to the LG Optimus 2X.

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Nokia Mobile Phones

August 5th, 2011 | Mobile Phones, Nokia

Nokia mobile phones, and their distinctive ring tones, have a special sentimental value for many people as many people’s first mobiles would have been a Nokia. The company were one of the biggest pioneers in the fledgling mobile phone market of the late 80′s and early 90′s, along with helping to develop many of the first devices for the military in the 60′s and the public in the 70′s.

Early Nokia mobile phones proved massively popular with the general public thanks to their easy layout, robust yet fashionable design and distinctive features such as the cult ‘Snake’ game. As the market grew, Nokia stayed on the cutting edge of design and were helped to even greater heights thanks to the inclusion of their phones in films such as The Matrix, which started a massive demand for slide phones.

Nokia have not been afraid to innovate with their designs, a feature which can be seen best with the company’s hugely inventive N-Gage design. The phone, first released in 2003, was one of the first on the market to try to combine a mobile phone, mobile gaming, web browsing, multi player gaming and application downloads. Although purpose built smartphones eventually overtook the N-Gage as an all purpose handset, the phone showed incredible longevity and was only phased out in 2010.

In the future, Nokia are planning an assault on the smartphone market and have announced that they will launch their first next generation Windows 7 powered phones in 2011.

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Android Apps Explained

August 2nd, 2011 | Google Android, Mobile Phones

One of the major attractions to mobile phones which run on Google’s powerful Android operating system is the huge quantity of Android Apps which are available for download from the Android Market. On the market, users can find applications as far ranging as news services and simple games to professional products, medical texts and even Android Sat Nav apps.

One of the key reasons behind the prevalence of Apps on the Android Market is the freedom which is afforded to developers. Some other application stores on other smart phone mobile operating system platforms either put so many restrictions on developers that they shy away from releasing their software on them, or do not have enough users to make developing software for them a viable project. However, as the Android Market both allows developers great freedom – although obviously the store filters out illegal, malicious or obscene software – and is one of the busiest in the mobile phone industry thanks to the huge range of Android powered phones on the market, it acts as a hotbed for new software to be developed.

Thanks to this freedom and massive user base, Android Apps are popular amongst both small developers looking to get a foothold in the industry and large companies looking for new and innovative ways to connect with their customers. It is also common for news services and magazines to create application versions of their publications in order to share news and stories with their readers on their phones.

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