Huawei U8180 IDEOS X1

Huawei has a new Android smartphone that’s been approved by the FCC earlier today. The smartphone is referred to as Huawei X1, Huawei U8180, and Huawei Gaga (Huawei has even trademarked this name in the US, so it will probably use it there – unless Lady Gaga has something to say about that).For now, the FCC approved the X1 to work only on the 850 / 1900 GSM, and 850 WCDMA bands, thus US availability is still uncertain.The X1 U8180 Gaga runs Android 2.2 and features a 2.8 inch QVGA touchscreen display, Wi-Fi, GPS, 3.5mm headset jack, 3.2MP camera, a 528MHz processor, and MicroSD card support – yes, these specs make it a low-end smartphone.

	2G Network	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
	3G Network	HSDPA 900 / 2100
	Announced	2011, May
	Status	Available

	Dimensions	104 x 56 x 13 mm
	Weight	100 g

	Type	TFT capacitive touchscreen, 256K colors
	Size	240 x 320 pixels, 2.8 inches (~143 ppi pixel density)
		- Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate - Touch-sensitive controls - Proximity sensor for auto turn-off

	Alert types	Vibration, MP3 ringtones
	Loudspeaker	Yes
	3.5mm jack	Yes

	Phonebook	Practically unlimited entries and fields, Photocall
	Call records	Practically unlimited
	Internal	512 MB ROM, 256 MB RAM
	Card slot	microSD (TransFlash) up to 32GB, buy memory

	GPRS	Yes
	EDGE	Yes
	3G	HSDPA, 7.2 Mbps
	WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi hotspot
	Bluetooth	Yes, v2.1 with A2DP, EDR
	Infrared port	No
	USB	Yes, microUSB v2.0

	Primary	3.15 MP, 2048x1536 pixels
	Features	Geo-tagging
	Video	Yes
	Secondary	No

	OS	Android OS, v2.2 (Froyo)
	CPU	528 MHz processor, Qualcomm MSM7225 chipset
	Messaging	SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, IM
	Browser	HTML
	Radio	FM radio
	Games	Yes + downloadable
	Colors	Various
	GPS	Yes, with A-GPS support
	Java	Yes, via Java MIDP emulator
		- SNS integration - Google Search, Maps, Gmail, Talk - MP3/WAV/eAAC+ player - MP4/H.263/H.264 player - Organizer - Document viewer - Photo viewer/editor - Voice memo - Predictive text input

iPhone 4S

Design

As a matter of fact, there are already three different versions of iPhone 4, they are the original one, the Verizon iPhone 4for CDMA networks and a slightly different design and the white iPhone. The latter has a different proximity sensor and some users claim there are more differences. A friend of mine says that the white iPhone 4 has a longer battery life. We know that they use very same batteries so the better battery life might be the work of the improved proximity sensor which works awfully on the original iPhone 4 – during conversations I often turn off the mic or end the call and sometimes the screen just won’t go off. So the new iPhone 4S is just another version of the popular iPhone 4.

It’s fascinating how other manufacturers easily sacrifice the design of their flagship phones but Apple’s situation is different – they offer very few products and the latest one becomes the flagship. In Nokia phones design legacy can be traced for some bestsellers like Nokia 1100 or 6700, Sony Ericsson are always trying to come up with something new while there is not much to sacrifice in Samsung phones as their products are quite simple in terms of design. Samsung also likes to seek inspiration in others’ work. There is always plagiarism and especially when it comes to touchscreen phones. Apple have been working for a long time on the design of iPhone 4 and it would be a terrible waste not to use it considering that iPhone 4 is still in short supply. Since iPhone 4 was released no other manufacturer managed to deliver such an elegant combination of metal and glass and iPhone 4 remains the only phone with such a long life image factor and I find it weird when people say that they won’t buy iPhone 4 because everyone has got one but the iPhone hype has lost its edge nevertheless.

However, the release of iPhone 4S will boost iPhone’s popularity once again. It will be available in black and white, its dimensions will be 115.2 х 58.6 х 9.3 mm / 4.5 x 2.3 x 0.37 in, and it will weigh in 140g / 4.9 oz. – it’s the same size but it’s a bit lighter than the predecessor. All the accessories you have for your current iPhone will work fine with the new one from cases to stereo systems at least for a year when the next iPhone arrives. Judging by the first pictures the design has not changed – metal and glass, the audio jack and the buttons are on the same places. The phone will be bundled with the same headset, AC adapter, USB cable and a manual.

The screen is also the same – you can read my review of it in the article on iPhone 4. I’d prefer to talk about what’s new.

Everyone remembers the antenna issue of iPhone 4 so iPhone 4S uses a dual reception/transmission system. Eldar Murtazin has already voiced his doubts in this solution, as for me, I don’t trust Apple anymore and I will report on the efficiency of this system only after testing it.

Camera

I have had all iPhones since the moment each of them was released and I can tell you that the very first iPhone had a terrible camera, the 3G and 3Gs had mediocre cameras while iPhone 4 can easily substitute a point and shoot camera – and in my articles I often use pictures I made using iPhone 4. I upload pictures with Instagram every day. Photo and video shooting with its 5MPix camera is a very strong trait of iPhone 4.

iPhone 4S uses an 8MPix camera with autofocus which can be set by touching the screen, facial recognition, an LED flash which also makes a good flashlight, 1080p video recording, geotags etc. Photo Maximum resolution is 3264 x 2448, it features new and better software, new lenses. The A5 processor can make the first picture in 1.1s. – you can compare this result to iPhone’s rivals in the table.

CPU

iPhone 4S uses the A5 processor and Apple claims it’s twice as fast as its predecessor and not just in regular apps but in games also. If you remember the performance difference between the 3G and 3Gs I think the performance gain is easy to believe in. Apple also promises better battery life time but we’ll have to put this to a test.

Storage

Good news here, besides the 16GB and 32GB versions there will be also the new 64GB variant. Those of us who have a lot of apps, video and, especially, games and who have learned to save storage space will certainly appreciate the extra 32GB.

Assistant

Android also has voice control features but just like Apple did with Face Time (video calls existed long before it) it is far more important the way you present it and Apple presented their voice control as something brand new. The Siri system can answer your questions about weather, it can help you type a message or a memo, create a route etc. Apple have been experimenting with voice control for a long time – there are a lot of such features in iOS right now even iPod Shuffle can boast of having a few of them.

Bottom Line

Most importantly:

• iOS 5 will be available for download on October 12 for iPhone 3G/4, both iPads, iPod Touch 2G/3G
• iPhone 4S will be released on October 14 in a number of countries
• I am going to tell you about iCloud and its applications separately and we already have a brief description of iOS 5 features on our website – we will publish a test of iOS 5 on iPhone 4 around October 13 or 14
• The fact that Apple preinstalled a Twitter client tells us that the company sees a future for this social network. It’s funny, but during the conference Twitter was the only reliable source of the news as many websites were down at the time
• The new Infinity Blade!!! And I am not even ashamed of those exclamation marks as I think that this is one of the greatest mobile games ever. It develops organically – there new features though one might say there is nothing to improve.
• Naturally, there is Face Time and lots of other features. All in all, it is the good old iPhone 4 made even better

Amazon Kindle 4

By now, many of us have either bought our own Kindle or seen someone else’s. It was less than 4 years ago that the first Kindle was released. Amazon’s exact Kindle 4 release could be sometime this year. This year may well see then unveiling of the 4th generation version.
Well I saw a post on the E-Ink Technology that has possibilities of color without an LDC backlit screen. This means that the Kindle Book covers would just have a color to them and if I read a comic on the Kindle it would also show up in color.If Amazon is smart they will release asap a touch screen kindle similar to the new nook. The kindle 3 keyboard and controls are clunky. I prefer most of the features and book choices of amazon, but I think the lack of touch screen on the kindle will cost them many customers to the new nook.

Nokia X6

Nokia X6 is a mobile phone is a music powerhouse device where you can listen 35 hours of music. Nokia X6 gives you unlimited access to millions of tracks available in Nokia Music Store. 32GB of onboard memory is available for to store music, images and videos in your phone. X6 comes with Carl Zeiss lens with 5 megapixel camera. A 3.2" finger touch interface for quick contact and navigation.16:9 widescreen feature for those who want to view photos, videos and internet browsing.

Nokia X6 comes with 3 embedded games like Spore by EA, Asphalt4 and DJ Mix Tour by Gameloft. It is easy to download more games and applications through the Ovi Store.

Nokia X6 is still not available in Sri Lanka.

Nokia X6 Specifications

Messaging
SMS
MMS
Email
Push Mail Not available.
Camera Zoom 4x Digital, Autofocus, Dual LED Flash
Video Capture 640x480@30fps; 176x144@15fps, MP4, 3GP
Connectivity Ports USB 2.0 High Speed
Bluetooth 2.0
Wifi WLAN IEEE 802.11 b/g
Internet GPRS, EDGE Class A, TCP/IP, WAP
Entertainment Music Player MP3, SpMidi, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA, MTP
FM Radio Stereo FM Radio
Games EA, Asphalt4 and DJ Mix Tour by Gameloft
Ring Tones Upto 64 Poly Midi, MP3, Video, 3D Stereo
Technology 3G HSDPA cat 6, upto 3.6 Mbps (DL)
Java Technology Java MIDP
Network Standby Time Upto 401 Hours
Operating Frequency GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
Talk Time Up to 8.5 Hrs, Music-35 Hrs, Video-4 Hrs
GPS Integrated A-GPS, Ovi Maps 3.0
Phone Kit KIT Handset, USB Cable, Mini DVD, User Guide
Battery Weight 122 g
Charger Included
Headset Included
Speaker Onboard.

Samsung i8910 Omnia HD

Now that's a big one - the handset with one of the longest spec sheets we've ever seen has just dropped on us like a bomb. The Omnia HD is Samsung's go at touch-taming the Symbian S60 and is introducing truly revolutionary stuff.

A 3.7" OLED capacitive touchscreen, an 8 megapixel camera that should be able to humble even some digicams and of course the HD video recording - does it really get any sweeter? Geeks have been warned - continue reading this preview at your own risk. We are not to be held responsible for sleep disorders or compulsive spending.

Samsung i8910 Omnia HD is surely one of the most interesting packages to look out for at this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. With a specs sheet like that it's hardly a surprise but we cannot quite get Samsung's choice of name. There was nothing wrong with the original Omnia but reusing a name is not exactly suggestive of revolutionary. Oh, and don't get us started on the superscript. It may look cool and all, but just go ahead and google OmniaHD.

With the following preview we did our best to provide you with as much information as possible for the very short time we spent with the handset. Since our unit is at the very early stages of development we would focus mainly on the hardware and ergonomics as the software is well in need of getting polished. By the way, we've already reviewed the Symbian S60 5th edition touch user interface with Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, so you should already know the basics.

Samsung i8910 Omnia HD at a glance:

• General: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS 900/1900/2100 MHz, GPRS/EDGE class 12, HSDPA 7.2 Mbps, HSUPA 5.76 Mbps
• Form factor: Touchscreen bar
• Dimensions: 123 x 58 x 12.9 mm
• Display: 3.7-inch 16M color OLED touchscreen, 640 x 360 pixels
• Memory: 8/16GB integrated memory, non-hot-swappable microSD card slot (up to 16GB)
• OS: Symbian S60 5th edition
• Camera: 8 megapixel auto focus camera with LED flash, geo-tagging, Face detection, Smile Shot, Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) and HD video recording at 24 fps
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, standard microUSB port, GPS receiver with A-GPS and optional Samsung Mobile Navigator by Route66, HDMI (dongle needed)
• Misc: Accelerometer for screen auto rotate, Proximity sensor for auto screen turn-off, FM radio with RDS, DivX/XviD video support
• Battery: 1500 mAh battery

Palm Pre

Manufacturer	Palm, Inc.
Carrier	Sprint Nextel (USA) Bell Mobility (Canada) O2 (UK, Germany & Ireland) Movistar (Spain)
Available	June 6, 2009 (Sprint Nextel) Late 2009 (Bell Mobility) Late 2009 (O2)
Screen	3.1 in (79 mm) HVGA (320×480) 24-bit color capacitive touchscreen
Camera	3.2 megapixel camera with LED flash, "extended depth of field", and geotagging
Operating system	Palm webOS
CPU	600 Mhz Texas Instruments OMAP 3430 (ARM Cortex A8 + PowerVR SGX)
Memory	256 MB RAM
Storage	8 GB
Networks	CDMA
Connectivity	EV-DO Rev. A Bluetooth 2.1+EDR with A2DP MicroUSB Wi-Fi 802.11b/g with WPA, WPA2, 802.1X authentication A-GPS
Battery	1150 mAh Lithium-ion
Physical size	Closed: 100.53 mm (3.958 in) (h) 59.57 mm (2.345 in) (w) 16.95 mm (0.667 in) (d)
Weight	135 g (4.8 oz)
Form factor	Slider

Apple iPhone 3GS

Speed
The "S" stands for "SPEED!" And according to Apple, it is faster launching applications or rendering Web pages.

• The iPhone 3GS has a new processor built-in. Apple claims that it is up to two times faster than the previous generation: Launching messages is 2.1 faster, load the NY Times in Safari: 2.9 times faster. It also consumes less, which has an impact on the improved battery life.

Camera
This is one of the strong points of the iPhone 3GS, according to Apple. They increased the resolution to 3 megapixels, which—judging from the shots they showed-seems much better quality under all conditions.

• 3 Megapixels sensor.
• New camera, with auto focus, auto exposure, and auto white balance.
• You can also tap to focus, changing white balance in the process. That is really neat, if you ask me.
• Special macro and low light modes.
• The camera also supports photo and video geotagging.
• Any application can access all the camera functions now.

• It supports video, 30 frames per second VGA with auto focus, auto white balance, and auto exposure.
• You can trim the video shot just using your finger, then share it via MMS, email, MobileMe and YouTube.

Connectivity
The other part of the "S" is the support for the faster 7.2 Mbps 3G standard, which in theory will deliver data faster to your iPhone.

• Three band UMTS/HSDPA.
• Four band GSM/EDGE.
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g.
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR

Graphics
• The new iPhone 3GS includes new 3D graphics support in hardware. This means faster and more complicated 3D games.
• Same 3.5-inch widescreen multitouch display, but this time it has a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating. I wonder if it will withstand a full frontal Shake Shack burger attack.

Design

• Same design as before, including the glossy finish of the back (so much for all the rumors about the matte back.)
• Same size as the old iPhone 3G: 4.5 x 2.4 x 0.48 inches.
• The weight increases a bit: One ounce to 4.8 ounces (135 grams vs 133 grams).
• Greener materials: Arsenic-free glass, BDF-free, Mercury-free LCD.

New special features
• It has a magnetometer, which works with a Compass application, third parties, and it is integrated into the new Google maps app, showing your orientation with a small semitransparent cone.
• Voice control. You can now talk with your iPhone, Enterprise-style. You can instruct it to play similar songs to the one you are playing, or call people.
• Nike + support built in.
• Supports accessibility features, like zooming on text, inverting video, and voice over when you touch whatever text is on screen.

Battery life
• One of the more important new features is the increased battery life.
• According to Apple, you will get up to 12 hours of talk time on 2G and 5 on 3G, with a up to 300 hour standby time.
• On 3G, it will deliver 5 hours of internet use.
• On Wi-Fi, Internet goes up to 9 hours.
• Video playback is 10 hours vs 30 hours for audio.