Latest Tech Updates: Best mobile phone 2011

Latest Tech Updates: Best mobile phone 2011: "First look: Samsung Google Nexus SGoogle's third foray into the smartphone market has arrived in the form of the Samsung Google Nexus S. Fin..."

Best mobile phone 2011

First look: Samsung Google Nexus S

Google's third foray into the smartphone market has arrived in the form of the Samsung Google Nexus S. Find out how it handles.

 The Samsung Google Nexus S is a consumer-friendly smartphone that runs on the latest Android operating system 2.3 Gingerbread.

Boasting a 1GHz Cortex A8 application processor, a 5-megapixel camera with inbuilt flash, a 4in Super AMOLED touch screen and a dedicated GPU, the Google Nexus S is suitably well-equipped for today's mobile lifestyle. Other highlights include the ability to turn your phone into a Wi-Fi hotspot, VoIP/SIP support, Google Maps 5.0 with Navigation and a 3-axis gyroscopic sensor that can be used for gaming.

Attractive, lightweight and packed with features, the Samsung Google Nexus S is a hard phone not to like. On the downside, its browser could be a bit speedier, and the lack of expandable memory may see you filling up its 16GB flash drive fast. It’s also tied exclusively to the Vodafone network in Australia, with no official way to buy the phone outright.

Despite these foibles, the Samsung Google Nexus S remains a solid addition to the Android fold. While not quite an ‘iPhone-killer’, it nonetheless gives it a pretty good mauling.

Latest Tech Updates: HTC EVO a 3D innovation

Latest Tech Updates: HTC EVO a 3D innovation: "The HTC EVO 3D is the first phone to accommodate 3D technology, not to mention, 3D without glasses. The HTC EVO 3D features a 4.3' qH..."

HTC EVO a 3D innovation

The HTC EVO 3D is the first phone to accommodate 3D technology, not to mention, 3D without glasses.  The HTC EVO 3D features a 4.3" qHD screen that shows glasses-free 3D imagery and two 5MP cameras to capture stereoscopic stills and video. 3D videos are shot in 720p resolution but 3D stills are limited to 2MP for some reason. 

 The EVO 3D packs the first ever (official) Snapdragon dual-core CPU and also the first ever 1.2GHz Snapdragon. It packs 1GB of RAM, running Android 2.3 Gingerbread with HTC Sense. 

The phone measures 126mm x 65mm x 12.05mm and packs a mammoth 1730mAh battery - it weighs a hefty 170 grams though. The HTC EVO 3D packs MHL (the port that combines USB and HDMI), Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, microSD card slot and other goodies.


Below are some snapshots of the HTC EVO 3D

 

Latest Tech Updates: iPad 2: a heart breaking story

Latest Tech Updates: iPad 2: a heart breaking story: "Have you been thinking of getting the iPad 2 lately? If yes, then here are five reasons why you should wait a bit. No USB, flash or expanda..."

iPad 2: a heart breaking story

Have you been thinking of getting the iPad 2 lately? If yes, then here are five reasons why you should wait a bit.

No USB, flash or expandable memory
When the iPad came out, customers were seriously disappointed at the fact that it didn't have of what we've come to view as very basic features: a USB port, Flash Support and an SD card slot for expandable memory.
These absences were quite roundly criticised on all corners of the globe; Apple could hardly fail to be aware of it. So when the iPad 2 specs were announced, the continued lack of support for Flash, USB and SD was more than a little conspicuous.

Competition
In a few months, the tablet market is going to be flooded; the much-hyped Motorola Xoom, BlackBerry PlayBook, HTC Flyer, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and LG Optimus Tab are expected to hit Aussie shelves. If you don't have a tablet computer yet, a little longer isn't going to kill you to wait and see if the competition measures up.

No retina display
Owners of the new iPhone 4 and iPod touch were delighted by the presence of a retina display and it was much anticipated that the iPad 2 would accommodate the same. Instead the same old 1024x768 resolution, which means that you rather wait for Motorola's Xoom if you want to watch High definition shows.

Upgraded features? Not really..
The upgrades from the iPad one to the iPad 2 were disappointingly few. There's a new dual core processor which makes it a bit faster, two cameras one facing front, one rear (now who's going to walk around taking photos with an iPad); a new OS with just tiny tweaks; and a slimmer, lighter body. That's about it, what? Like 5 differences???

iPad 3
Apple likes to update every year, so it's highly likely there will be a new iPad this time next year. Also likely it will be slimmer again, lighter, include that better screen, and faster yet. And who knows, maybe if enough people skip the iPad 2, Apple will open its resolutely closed ears and introduce Flash, USB and SD support... though don't hold your breath.
 

Latest Tech Updates: Nintendo 3DS: review

Latest Tech Updates: Nintendo 3DS: review: "The Nintendo 3DS has finally arrived and with it, the next generation of handheld gaming. With glasses-less 3D and graphics that rival tha..."

Nintendo 3DS: review

The Nintendo 3DS has finally arrived and with it, the next generation of handheld gaming. With glasses-less 3D and graphics that rival that of Nintendo’s own Wii console, the 3DS is certainly going to turn some heads and gain a lot of attention.

 The 3DS is roughly the same size as the Nintendo DSi, but the long-time DSi faithfuls will notice that the 3DS has more bulk. The two screens on the 3D handheld are not the same size, instead the top screen (which utilizes the new 3D technology) is longer and is used to feature a wide screen aspect ratio. One of the biggest differences about the 3DS’ layout is the addition of a (well-needed) joystick. The stick feels loose but is very precise.

 The glasses-less 3D technology is obviously the key selling point of the Nintendo 3DS and for the most part it works pretty well. Once you’ve established a “sweet spot,” the 3D effects really do work quite well.

While the Nintendo 3DS’ 3D is indeed its biggest feature, people won’t be able to enjoy it for elongated amounts of time, not because of the 3D strain on your eyes, but because the 3DS’ battery life lasts only three hours. After the battery dies it takes roughly three hours to completely recharge the unit.

Nintendo has also finally implemented online and a friends list which is a nice addition. The ability to see when your friends are or aren’t online is a much needed feature, but it’s certainly not the best online interface there is. One major downside to the new online setup is the inability to send messages to friends who are online.

 The Nintendo 3DS is truly a step into the next generation of gaming, but that doesn’t mean it’s without any problems. My recommendation to those who are still on the fence about the 3DS is to just hold off a little bit longer. That way they’ll be able to enjoy some of the Triple-A titles that didn’t make it in time for launch, as well as purchase some old-school classics from the GameBoy and GameBoy Color era on the eStore. The system is going to be a must-own in the very near future, but right now it just doesn’t live up to the price it’s been given(300 bucks).

Latest Tech Updates: New PSP, the Next-generation Portable

Latest Tech Updates: New PSP, the Next-generation Portable: "The new PSP codenamed NGP will revolve around five key concepts: Revolutionary User Interface, Social Connectivity, Location-based Entertai..."

New PSP, the Next-generation Portable

The new PSP codenamed NGP will revolve around five key concepts: Revolutionary User Interface, Social Connectivity, Location-based Entertainment, Converging Real and Virtual (augmented) Reality.

Specs include a quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor, 5-inch touchscreen OLED display with 960 x 544 resolution, dual analog sticks (not nubs as on the current generation), 3G, WiFi, GPS, a rear-mounted touchpad, the same accelerometer / gyroscope motion sensing as in the PlayStation Move, an electronic compass, and cameras on both the front and back. Though games will come on "new media", not UMD's.

At Sony's live event some demos of pretty popular games were played; games including: Killzone, Resistance, Little Big Planet, and Uncharted -- with the latter serving as a demo platform to show off how the NGP's rear touchpad can be used to more intuitively climb up some vines.

The new console's UI will be called LiveArea, which has a bunch of vertically navigable home screens and built-in social networking through PlayStation Network. You can jump between games and the LiveArea without losing your progress and comment on your buddies' great feats of mobile gaming.

In closing its presentation, Sony trotted out Hideo Kojima to show off a cutscene from MGS 4 rendered in real time on the NGP. It was pulled directly from the PS3 version of the game and ran at 20fps, which looked very smooth.

Latest Tech Updates: Top ten cell phones

Latest Tech Updates: Top ten cell phones: "1) Motorola Atrix 4G This dual-core phone is fast and boasts solid data speeds, but the Atrix-powered laptop accessory is a good idea poorl..."

Top ten cell phones

1) Motorola Atrix 4G
This dual-core phone is fast and boasts solid data speeds, but the Atrix-powered laptop accessory is a good idea poorly executed.

 2) HTC ThunderBolt
The well-appointed ThunderBolt is the phone to buy if you want to see what 4G can do.

 3) Samsung Epic 4G

The standout of the Galaxy S phones, the Epic 4G offers some enticing features like a physical keyboard front-facing camera and 4G network support.

 4) T-Mobile myTouch 4G
The powerful myTouch 4G delivers when it comes to multimedia and performance, but make sure you live in an HSPA+-supported area before purchasing it.

5)  HTC EVO 4G
The speedy HTC EVO 4G packs in some powerful specs and a variety of multimedia features into a stylish, minimalist design, but not everybody will get to enjoy one of its best features--4G connectivity.

 6) Apple 32GB iPhone 4
The iPhone 4 is a major upgrade from its predecessor, the iPhone 3GS, in everything from the camera quality to data speeds.

 7) Motorola Droid X
Motorola Droid X shines at multimedia playback, network performance, and features; but the interface can occasionally be sluggish.

8) Samsung Galaxy S 4G
The Samsung Galaxy S 4G is a solid, yet powerful phone, but it doesn’t have the specs to compete with the next generation of smartphones.

9) HTC Droid Incredible
The HTC Incredible is one of the most impressive Android phones available with a gorgeous display, slick user interface, and lightning-fast processor.

 10) Google Nexus One
The Google Nexus One impresses with a stunning AMOLED display, speedy performance, and cool tweaks to the Android OS; but some network issues prevent it from being a superphone.

 

Latest Tech Updates: PS3's biggest secrets finally revealed!!

Latest Tech Updates: PS3's biggest secrets finally revealed!!: "PS3 and PS3 slim Have a PlayStation 3? If that's the case then below are five tips and tricks that you won't find in the user manual. 1)..."

PS3's biggest secrets finally revealed!!

PS3 and PS3 slim

Have a PlayStation 3? If that's the case then below are five tips and tricks that you won't find in the user manual.

1) Play games from any country

Yes, you can now literally play any game from anywhere in any place of the world. Unlike the PS1 and PS2 games, PS3 games are not region coded. This means that now USA games can be played on Euro consoles.

2) The secret video reset

Take your PS3 to your room upstairs or a mates place over the weekend and there's a good chance you won't see anything on the screen. This is because your new T.V. may have been set to a different resolution or is using different cables. Now that your screen is blank you can't change it! What to do?

Simple, shut down your PS3 then restart by pressing and holding the power button. This will reset your PS3 to its most basic 480p graphics mode so you'll be able to see enough to choose RGB SCART, component, HDMI or whatever from here.

3) See how much charge is on your pad

There's no indication of how much charge is left on the pad itself. Instead it appears on screen during games. Press and hold the PS button on any joypad. An indicator will appear, showing your pad's charge as a small battery.

4) Upgrade your hard drive

Simply remove the cover flap on the bottom of your PS3. Undo the blue screw and slide the drive over to the right and out of your PS3. Undo the four screws on the 'caddy' and remove the old drive. Put your new drive in the caddy (it should be exactly the same size, of course) and re-do the four screws. Slot it back in and slide to the left to make the connections. Re-do the blue screw, pop the cover back on and restart your PS3. Say 'yes' to the message on screen and voila!

5) Download game saves

There are hundreds and thousand of your favourite game's saves out there on the internet. If you have lost your data than why play your game from the beginning when you can download game saves. Download the save you want - it'll come in a 'PS3' folder that you can lift onto a USB stick and put into your PS3. Go to the Game menu, choose your stick and the game save you downloaded should be right there. Press Triangle to copy it to your hard drive.

Latest Tech Updates: Battlefield 3 coming fall 2011

Latest Tech Updates: Battlefield 3 coming fall 2011: "Battlefield 3 on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC Battlefield is a first person shooter being published by EA digital illusions CE. Battlefield 3 is..."

Battlefield 3 coming fall 2011

Battlefield 3 on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC

Battlefield is a first person shooter being published by EA digital illusions CE. Battlefield 3 is a directsuccessor to its previously released Battlefield 2 in 2005. It is expected to be released in the fall of 2011 on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC.

Call of Duty will go head to head with Battlefield 3.

The official Battlefield Blog confirm a full single-player and co-op campaign, jets, prone, and 64-player multiplayer for the PC version. The Frostbite 2 engine will power the game and a Limited Edition will be revealed around GDC.

Battlefield 3 Gameplay

 Will the game have a single-player component?

Yes, and it will be a separate fiction from Bad Company 2 with different characters. The year is 2014 and, at least in one of the missions, you follow along with a squad of U.S. Marines in Iraqi Kurdistan. For those interested, the campaign can be played co-operatively.

What multiplayer details are available?

The online component of Battlefield 3 will feature an unlock progression structure that's more extensive than Bad Company 2. It sounds like there'll be four base classes in the game, all highly customizable. Squads for online play will be implemented, though modified for Battlefield 3. Expect some of the maps to be quite large since jets will be included as controllable vehicles. You'll also be able to go prone.

What platforms is Battlefield 3 being developed for and when is it coming out?

The game will be made available this holiday season for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.

Latest Tech Updates: Pros and Cons of the HTC Desire HD

Latest Tech Updates: Pros and Cons of the HTC Desire HD: "HTC once again came with another high end smartphone, the HTC Desire HD. It comes with Android software and is the successor of the original..."

Pros and Cons of the HTC Desire HD

HTC Desire HD

HTC once again came with another high end smartphone, the HTC Desire HD. It comes with Android software and is the successor of the original HTC Desire. In this article we will have a look at the HTC's specs, hardware, software and of course its pros and cons.


HTC Desire HD specs:

• 4.3-inch capacitive touchscreen (480 x 800)
•  1GHz new-gen Snapdragon processor
•  768MB RAM
•  3G data connectivity
• WiFi (B/G/N)
• Bluetooth
• 1.5 GB internal storage
• Hot-swappable microSD card slot with a bundled 8 GB MicroSD card (expandable to 32 GB)
•  Android 2.2 with HTC Sense UI
• Integration with HTCSense.com for cloud services
• HTC Locations maps app for offline/pre-cached map data
•  Dolby Mobile and SRS wow HD support

Review: HTC Desire HD Pros

• HTC Sense UI is still awesome
• Incredible in-hand feel
• Gorgeous industrial design
• Hot-swappable microSD card
• HTCSense.com is a perfect companion
• Large display
• Pre-cache map support with HTC Locations

Review: HTC Desire HD cons

• No option to turn off the Sense UI
• Headphone jack is at the bottom of the device (to some this belongs in “The Good” section)
• No front-facing camera or HDMI port
• Could use some more internal memory

HTC Desire HD review conclusion:
HTC Desire HD is a great smartphone. It might be one of the best smartphones I have ever seen so far. The HTC desire HD is super fast with a large screen. Not to mention the performance with 1GHz processor and 786MB of RAM. Currently, I think it is save to say that the HTC Desire HD is the best Android phone made by HTC. However, this Android smartphone is not perfect. You won’t find any front facing camera nor HDMI port. But hey, it is good enough for me.

Latest Tech Updates: Apple iPad 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

Latest Tech Updates: Apple iPad 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: "Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (left) vs Apple iPad 2 (right) Earlier this month, Apple waved it's newest iPad, the iPad 2. So how does the succ..."

Apple iPad 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (left) vs Apple iPad 2 (right)

Earlier this month, Apple waved it's newest iPad, the iPad 2. So how does the successor to the phenomenally successful iPad compare against the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1?

As expected, the iPad 2 is a gentle evolution of the original iPad, sporting a faster processor, front and rear cameras, an HDMI port, 720p video capture and a lighter, thinner design. It also now comes in a choice of black or white.

While the iPad 2 is certainly an improvement over its predecessor, the majority of new features are already being mirrored by rival tablets. A contender for Apple's tablet throne is the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, which boasts a stunningly thinner at just 8.6mm compared to Apple's 8.8mm body including both USB and memory card ports.


If you are unfamiliar with these tablets, here's an overview of each:

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
Samsung will unleash a new challenger to the Apple iPad 2 – the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. Equipped with a 10.1in WXGA touch screen, a 1GHz Dual-Core application processor and an 8-megapixel AF camera, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 comes with all the trimmings you’d expect from a high-end tablet.
 Galaxy uses Google's Android 3.0 Honeycomb OS; an operating system built specifically for tablet devices and smartphones. 
Some of the key features new to Android 3.0 include tabbed browsing, a Windows-esque taskbar, improved multi-tasking and up to five customisable home screens. Honeycomb should help to make the Galaxy Tab 10.1's interface more intuitive and user-friendly. It all starts with a competitive price of $499-matching the iPad 2.

Apple iPad 2 
Apple made the iPad 2 thinner, lighter, and more powerful than the first-generation tablet. The iPad 2 also has front- and rear-facing cameras, which enable FaceTime video chat, and at least one high-profile launch app iPad 2 exclusive in iMovie.
It comes in with a choice of 16GB, 32GB or 64GB capacity and prices range from $499 to $829.
 
 Overall
Judged on specs alone, the Apple iPad 2 doesn't do much more than keep pace with its tablet rivals. So there you have it. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is shaping up to be a worthy alternative to the Apple iPad. The 8-megapixel camera, SD memory card slot and Honeycomb OS may even give it a decided edge. In the end, the decision will be heavily influenced by price and battery life. If the Galaxy Tab 10.1 can match Apple in these areas, we’ll have a clear victor.