Sony Ericsson Arc – is it any good?

July 30th, 2011 | Mobile Phone Reviews, Mobile Phones, Sony Ericsson

The Sony Ericsson Arc is a smartphone which has a huge emphasis on media, focusing its applications and technology on giving users high quality media playback. The phone features a large 4.2′ screen, which sticks with a TFT LCD screen rather than the brighter AMOLED technology in order to give a better range of colours, and also has an 8.1 megapixel camera for users to create their own media. Despite these high end pieces of technology, the phone manages to stay lightweight at just 117g thanks to an incredibly slim design. On top of this, the phone is powered by Google’s powerful Android operating system and as such provides users with a sleekly designed interface, quick processing time and a world of applications available for download via the Android Market.

The most popular contract Sony Ericsson Arc deals tend to cost between £25 and £30 per month, and for this customers can expect at least 300 minutes of free calls, a minimum of 500 free texts and at least 500mb of free data transfer via a mobile network. The Sony Ericsson Arc handset is also typically included in these deals as well, although some will ask customers to contribute between £50 and £100 towards the cost of the handset.

If you are looking to buy a Sony Ericsson Arc handset SIM free or on a pay as you go deal, then you can expect the phone to set you back between £340-£400 depending on the model and retailer.

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Samsung Google Nexus S Review

July 28th, 2011 | Google Android, Mobile Phone Reviews, Mobile Phones, Samsung

The Google Nexus S features the Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) OS, installed in a piece of slick-looking Samsung mobile hardware. The screen is amazing, the interface is exceptionally fast and smooth and there are loads of features to keep you happy and interested.

The screen is a 4inch Super AMOLED WVGA touch screen, providing a sharp and bright, but not too bright, display. Under the hood is a 16Hz Hummingbird processor with a specialised GPU for handling 3D graphics and on board gyroscope, making this an excellent gaming phone.

The phone’s physical design is similar to the Galaxy S, with the same curvy case and ultra-light feel. In fact, the phone’s light weight might be a bit off-putting at first, but not to worry, it is solidly built. The one thing the Nexus S does not have that the Galaxy S does is that iPhone mimicking chrome trim, which is a good thing.

While somewhat under rated on its original release, the Google Nexus S has one feature that is quickly becoming essential, near field communication or NFC. With NFC, the mobile is able to do all sorts of neat things, including pay for goods and services. With Google and others currently trialing NFC, this is a technology that looks like it is destined to become a key requirement in our lives.

Other features include 16GB of built-in memory and, as with most Android mobiles, it can be connected to your personal computer like a flash drive, making it easy to transfer photos, music and video.

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What is HTC Sense?

July 25th, 2011 | HTC, Mobile Phones

While many people recognise the HTC brand as one that is renowned for making well designed Android and Windows Mobile powered mobile phones, one thing that is not always clear is what the company means when they talk about HTC Sense. So, what is HTC Sense?

Put simply, HTC Sense is the name which HTC have given their upgrades and changes to the basic operating system which a phone uses that are designed to make using their phones easier, quicker and more intuitive. Most mobile phone manufacturers, and even some mobile networks, make tweaks to the basic operating system that comes with a phone in order to better suit the software to the functions and demands of the phone and otherwise optimise its performance. When HTC make their changes to the software to add features and make sure that it performs as best it can on a particular handset model, they call it HTC Sense.

Examples of HTC Sense features, which do vary across handsets and models, are being able to turn your phone off vibrate online if you have lost it with the ringer switched off, being able to securely back up your phone online and consolidating updates from across a range of social networks into one simple Friend Stream. The HTC Sense modifications also change how the phone reacts to being moved, with some handsets ringing louder when they detect that they are in a bag and automatically going into ‘silent’ mode when they are placed face down on a table.

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LG Optimus Black Overview

July 23rd, 2011 | Google Android, LG, Mobile Phone Reviews, Mobile Phones

A millimetre thinner than the iPhone 4 and weighing a mere 109 grams, LG’s Optimus Black is a slender and lightweight smartphone that, while perhaps not feeling quite as solid as some of its competitors, is not a bad budget offering.

The display is a 4inch 480 x 800 pixel screen, featuring Nova, LG’s answer to Samsung’s AMOLED screens. An auto brightness setting adjusts the screen so that it is as easy to read in broad daylight as it is in a darkened room.

Inside, the LG Optimus Black features a 1GHz processor running Android 2.2 (upgradable to 2.3). This is not a dual core, so it does not feature the power of some of the other smartphones on the market; however, it handles basic tasks without problem.

Gesture functions are built in, which allow the user to activate certain features through movement. The handset features two cameras, one front and one back. The front camera is a 2.0 megapixel camera for video chat while the back features a 5.0 megapixel camera with LED flash. Both experience some lag and while quality is acceptable in good conditions, results are fairly poor in lesser ones.

Connectivity for the LG Optimus Black is fairly standard, 3G, Bluetooth, GSP, and Wi-Fi. The unit can serve as a hotspot and supports Wi-Fi direct.

As with most Android based devices, Gmail and Google service integration is excellent, as is synchronisation of Twitter and Facebook contacts.

For a budget phone, the LG Optimus Black is not a bad choice, but expect some lag and be prepared to charge it daily.

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Latest Mobile Phones: Nokia N9 Powered by MeeGo

July 20th, 2011 | Mobile News, Mobile Phone Reviews, Mobile Phones, Nokia

In latest mobile phone news, the MeeGo powered Nokia N9 has been distributed to reviewers for testing. We took a look at what a few of them had to say.

First of all, the reviews were quite good; with the overall verdict being that it is a nice unit. This is both great news and kind of sad news, as this may very well be the last MeeGo phone produced by Nokia.

The phone is a squarish shape and comes in several different colours. The screen is a 3.9inch OLED display with ClearBlack technology, which helps produce deep blacks and vivid colours. The screen is also brought closer to the glass covering, making it look even darker when the phone is turned off.

There are no front buttons, just the side volume and power keys. Everything else is done via touch and gesture. There is also no microSD slot, but the phone comes with 16GB and 64GB options, so one could argue that this not needed. The N9 also uses a micro SIM rather than a regular sized one.
There is a front facing camera for video calling and the back camera is 8 megapixels with Carl Zeiss optics.

MeeGo is version 1.2, which works together with a 1GHz processor, 1GB RAM and PowerVR SGX530 graphics to provide quick response to swipe and touch. The primary home screen features a list of applications, which can be shut down with a long press.

All in all, the phone is a good one and could be a dark horse in the smartphone race.

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Motorola Atrix Smartphone Overview

July 18th, 2011 | Google Android, Mobile Phones, Motorola Mobile Phones, Touchscreen

The Motorola Atrix is an Android based smartphone that, when plugged into one of three accessory docks, can serve as a netbook, multimedia centre, alarm clock and a range of other goodies.

As expected, the handset is a solid build and you can feel the weight of it in your hands. The screen is a 4inch quarter high definition (qHD), 540 x 960 display, with a capacitive touch screen. Gorilla Glass protects the screen from blemishes.

There is a fingerprint reader located on the top, which also serves as the power button. If selected, the fingerprint reader can be used as your unlock feature, ensuring that no fingerprint but yours will unlock the phone. Set up also asks for a back-up password, just in case your fingertips are not available when you need to unlock the phone.

Because the Motorola Atrix is an Android device, it includes all of the great features we love. Motorola has also added its own flare to the phone with Motoblur, providing widgets that can be organised on a selection of seven home screens. Motoblur also includes a tracking device that allows you to track your phone and clear it of your details if it is lost or stolen.

Under the hood, the Atrix sports a 1GHz dual core Nvidia Tegra 2 processor and 1GB of RAM, allowing the phone to multitask without serious battery drain.

While what really set this phone apart are the docking stations, even without them, the Motorola Atrix is a powerhouse of a smartphone.

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Mobile Phone Deals: The Best Pay As You Go Mobiles

July 13th, 2011 | Blackberry, Mobile Phones, Nokia, Samsung

When it comes to getting good mobile phone deals, sometimes the best way to go is through pay as you go.

The beauty of the pay as you go system is that you never pay for minutes and texts you will not use. The downside is that the calls and texts you do make will cost a bit more per minutes or text. In the long run, it is up to you to decide whether pay as you go, long term contract or rolling contract is the best course to take. If you do choose pay as you go, here is a list of some of the UK’s best and favourite pay as you go mobile phones:

•    BlackBerry Curve 8520 – nicely designed QWERTY keyboard for messaging and email, Facebook and Twitter applications, BlackBerry Messenger, Wi-fi enabled, built-in web browser.

•    Samsung Galaxy Europa i5500 – a great smartphone for users wanting to minimise the learning curve. Features the Android OS, easy to use menu and touchscreen controls and Samsung’s Social Hub for Facebook and Twitter.

•    Samsung Tocco Lite S5230 – slim design, 3 inch TFT screen, 3.0 megapixel camera with smile detection, memory expandable to 16GB.

•    Nokia C3 – 5.0 megapixel camera supports up to 32GB microSD, 3G web browsing with flash lite support.

•    Samsung Chat 335 – features a slim design with 2.4inch screen, QWERTY keyboard, track pad, social networking access and push email.

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Thinking of Broadband?

July 10th, 2011 | Broadband, Mobile Broadband

Broadband is fast replacing dial-up when it comes to internet connectivity. It is faster and much more efficient, keeps you connected 24 hours a day and doesn’t need a telephone line. There are many companies now competing for your lucrative broadband custom, and because of this there are plenty promotions and special offers to take your pick from.

Broadband comparison websites will compare the best deals of the day in accordance with your requirements and present them in a simple, tabulated format to help you narrow the choice down. Often, it’s a good idea to go for a bundle of the type offered by Virgin Media Broadband and Sky Broadband, in which you get satellite TV, telephone and broadband all provided on the same connection. More choice in TV channels, fast internet connection, simplified billing arrangements and often free monthly national phone calls are good incentives for going for a bundled service.

Bear in mind the length of the contract when considering broadband providers. If you terminate the contract early you’ll probably have to pay for the whole of the remaining period, so a rolling monthly contract may be better for you than the usual 12 or 18 month one.

There is usually a usage cap involved too, whereby you cannot exceed a certain level of monthly usage, so bear this in mind as it will depend on how much you’re planning to be online.

Most broadband providers also supply you with free web space and email addresses, but you may not need these and you can ask about cutting the cost by dispensing with them.

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Mobile Phone Reviews: HTC Sensation

July 7th, 2011 | Google Android, HTC, Mobile Phone Reviews, Mobile Phones, Touchscreen

In some reviewer’s eyes, the HTC Sensation is the best of the HTC mobile phones yet. Powerful and beautifully designed in “unibody” style, the Sensation offers HTC’s wonderful Sense UI in a solid handset.

The screen is a 4.3inch contour display S-LCD with qHD resolution (540 x 960), providing deep blacks and vivid colours. Text, images and video all look nice and crisp. The touchscreen keyboard is typical of Sense UI, providing a logical layout, which makes it quite comfortable to use.

Like most Android handsets, the HTC Sensation has a set of touch sensitive keys located below the touchscreen for home, back, search, and menu. Other controls include volume and lock.

On the back lives an 8 megapixel camera for photo and video capture. On the front, is a camera designed for video calling.

Inside, the Sensation houses a dual-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor with 768MB of RAM. Internal storage is 1GB and the handset is shipped with an 8GB SD card.

Battery life for the HTC Sensation is better than typically found in Android handsets or other smartphones. In tests, it managed around 17 hours of normal use, which is to say texting, browsing, emailing, updating Facebook and/or Twitter, etc.

Overall, the HTC Sensation is stylish, fast and has an excellent battery life. On the downside, it is a bit heavy and the RAM is less than we tend to see on higher-end mobiles. However, with Sense UI and Android 2.3.3 under the hood, the HTC Sensation is hard to beat.

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The Top Motorola Mobile Phones

June 29th, 2011 | Google Android, Motorola Mobile Phones

Motorola mobile phones have been a favourite for many years.  As the demand for Motorola products has grown, the product ranges have adapted to include more features.  The phones currently available range from QWERTY keyboard phones for business users to tablet-style devices.

Motorola Xoom

This model is a 10.1″ tablet, with the Android 3.0 operating system installed.  The tablet can be purchased with either 16 or 32 GB of memory.  Internet access is made available through Wi-Fi and a 3G data network.  Two cameras are mounted on the device, one with 2-megapixels and the other with 5-megapixels.  This allows the tablet to be used both for video calls and for taking pictures.

Motorola Dext

The phone features a slide-out keyboard for those who need to type more frequently.  In addition to the Android operating system, the phone also uses a special Motorola interface.  The interface easily integrates with your favourite programs.  A GPS tracking system is built into the phone that allows it to be located if lost or stolen, and you can also reformat the info remotely.

Motorola Defy

Like the Dext, the Defy also integrates the Android operating system with the Motorola interface.  It has good media features that include a video player, music player and FM radio.  Favourite photos and other media can be easily shared via the messaging feature.  The screen is of a good enough size to allow for easy web browsing.

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