Lenovo joins Android frenzy with announced Snapdragon powered device named Lephone. The interesting part is that besides being the cool, slick smartphone, one of the options include attachable qwerty keyboard with cover. Besides the usual options (Bluetooth, WiFi) it looks like it lacks a good camera (3MP only). It will be available in China, and we expect more details at MWC, Barcelona.
We have tested another smartphone. This time, it's all about style and speed. For a full review, go here. Have you tried it / do you own it? What do you think about it?
CES is behind us, and it looks like ASUS was one of the companies generating positive buzz. One of the reasons was definitely the NX90 Bang & Olufsen Notebook.
Made from finest polished aluminium, the casing looks just amazing, providing that hand rest stays cool and for notebook to look cool. Besides looking great, ASUS focused on performance as well. Key difference between this model and other high end notebooks is the sound. By combining ICEpower and Sonic Focus technologies, lucky users will experience perfect sound. Top model will boost Intel Core i7-820QM processor working at 1.73GHz with HM55 chipset. Although NX90 comes with 4GB of preinstalled RAM, it can be expanded to fantastic 12GB! Since this is the ultimate desktop replacement it supports dual hard drives, integrated Blu-Ray combo drive. And to top it all, this super-desktop replacement will be equipped with 18.4" LED display with NVidia GT 335M for power.
Other fascinating new device was the UL80JTnotebook, that finally succeeded in combining power with long lasting battery. With two graphics cards, among which is NVidia GeForce 310, and Intel Core i7 CPU this model can act as a desktop replacement as well as the road-warrior companion. ASUS managed to provide excellent battery life as well by stating UL80JT has 12-hour battery life. Performance is being dynamically switched for the user, so there is no need to choose the mode you work in.
There has been a lot of rumors considering the next version of Windows Mobile. WM7 is definately late, as all of us were dissapointed with versions 6.5.x. It feels like Microsoft is loosing it's ground, by letting everyone take a shot at them. With a large consumer base, and tons of available applications, Microsoft still has the advantage among the corporate customers. However, iPhone and Android apps/consumer base is growing very fast.
HTC and Samsung have been saving Microsoft in the last years by implementing customized user interfaces that covered obvious flaws and dull screens. Recent models HD2 and Omnia II are prime examples of the recipe this companies had: hide as much as you can and develop your own UI.
At CES Robbie Bach from MS says (on WM7): And when you look at the product, I’m sort of like, I have the luxury of having seen it, to be able to look at it and played with it a little bit, but I’m certainly confident people are going to see it as something that’s differentiated and something that really does move the bar forward, not in an evolutionary way from where we are today, but it’s something that feels, looks, acts and performs completely different.
One major event is finished (CES), two to go: Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, and (less likely) Cebit in Hannover. It looks like we'll have more info at MWC, from 15-18. february.
We saw this one coming. Transparent display was presented at CES 2010. In full AMOLED glory combined with 960×540 resolution it has a coolness factor, although we cannot find real world use for it without thinking it trough. It is a pity that the transparency level is fixed to 38%. However display is 10bit, so the colors appear to be realy vibrant. Do we improvise and make a cheap HUD for our car, or can you find a better use for it ?
Samsung has announced the new flagship TV model – C9000. Besides being the ultrathin LED (yes, on the picture below you see the side view as well) it could easily be the TV that outbeats your smartphone with it's remote
Coming in late 2010, this ultrathin monster has 3D support as well, and remote is suitable for video streaming from other sources. TV will be able to convert 2D content to 3D. Do you notice the lack of connectors on the sides ? C9000 looks sexy, but impractical That's why the stand acts as a wall mount as well – it's not just a stand, it is filled with connectors.
Remember Xperia X1 and tragic UI panels made by Sony Ericsson (we saw it on MWC 2008)? Although they did not move much from X1 in terms of specs, and Xperia X2 does not seem like anything special, the guys from SE have realized that there is alternative to WM stock UI right there on the market. We had a review of the great SPB Mobile Shell a while ago and could not agree more that this was the best solution for the X2. Check out the image from the Boy Genius Report's coverage of CES 2010.
But, SE is terribly slow, they waited 2 years to update X1 to X2 and they bring us what ? Same processor, same screen resolution, 4-row keyboard (Touch Pro 2 has 5, with separate number row).
Oh we do expect a lot from X10 with Android platform, but SE needs to move fast and be competitive with the price. Can they do it ?
The first 1GHz Snapdragon Android phone is here. Nexus One has been the hot topic of all the technology blogs around the world.
Engadget has the full review here. As far as we European users go, Vodafone has announced that in just a few weeks it will have it in it's offer. It appears that HTC outdid itself, making the most powerful Android smartphone on the market. It looks very similar to the Bravo that we announced a while ago, and it looks like HTC will hold it's breath until the Q2 to roll out the Bravo (probably with new version of Sense). Will there be enough Nexus One models in the stock for all the interested customers ? $530 is just great, with the dollar being so down, can we expect a european Bravo to be under 500€ ?
Can and will you wait for the Bravo or try to get the Nexus One ? Shout in the comments and enjoy the following specs:
Processor: 1GHz Snapdragon
Display: 3.7" AMOLED WVGA (480x800)
Memory: 512MB RAM + 512MB ROM + microSD (4GB, expandable to 32MB)
We are back from our holidays, and, since this is our first post this year, we wish everybody Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and lots of cool gadgets
For the last few days, we have been testing Samsung Omnia Pro B7610 (who comes up with these kind of names???). It is a splendid little smartphone, and we enjoyed playing with it. You can read our impressions about the device here.