Xperia Ion is Sony’s first 4G LTE smartphone. In many ways it is Sony Xperia S – only better. It shares the best specs and features of the company’s flagship phone but sees some significant design and hardware upgrades.

Design

Sony Xperia Ion trades off the iconic LED bar of Xperia S for a larger display. Instead of three, it has four capacitive touch buttons below the screen for Menu, Home, Back, and Search. One thing it doesn’t give up is its rectangular form factor. The back, still slightly curved, makes it comfortable to hold despite its sizeable dimensions.
Despite its larger size, Sony Xperia Ion has the same weight as Xperia S. It’s not too heavy but it does miss the average weight of smartphones by 2 grams. Buttons for power and volume don’t protrude as much as they do on Sony Xperia S, giving it a cleaner look. Personally though, I prefer the placement of the volume rocker on Xperia S because it’s easier to reach with your right thumb when listening to music. On the bright side, it still has a dedicated camera button below the volume as well as a scratch-resistant glass to protect the display. Color options are limited to black.

Hardware and features

Sony Xperia Ion has several advantages over Sony Xperia S in terms of hardware. With a screen size of 4.55 inches, it doesn’t feel left out compared to behemoths like HTC One X and Samsung Galaxy S3. The phone also has fast 3G speeds at 21 Mbps which is almost twice what Sony Xperia S has to offer. Its biggest advantage by far is 4G connectivity. When connected to an LTE network, Sony Xperia Ion has upload speeds of 50 Mbps and download speeds of 100 Mbps.

Specifications

	Sony Xperia Ion (AT&T)	Sony Xperia S
Display	4.55-inch capacitive LCD 1280 x 720 pixels, 16M colors, 323ppi	4.3-inch capacitive LCD 1280 x 720 pixels, 16M colors, 342ppi
Processor	1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon	1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon
RAM	1024 MB	1024 MB
Graphics Adapter	Adreno 220	Adreno 220
Storage Space	Internal: 16GB External: NO	Internal: 32GB External: up to 32GB expandable
Camera(s)	Rear: 12MP with autofocus, LED flash Front: 1.3MP	Rear: 12MP with autofocus, LED flash Front: 1.3MP
Connectivity Options	Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, EDR WiFi 802.11 b/g/n microUSB 2.0	Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, EDR WiFi 802.11 b/g/n microUSB 2.0
Video	1080p at 30fps with continuous autofocus, video light, and video stabilizer	1080p at 30fps with continuous autofocus, video light, and video stabilizer
Battery	Li-Ion 1900 mAh	Li-Ion 1750 mAh
Dimensions and weight	5.24 x 2.68 x 0.42 inches, 144 grams	5.0 × 2.5 × 0.4 inches, 144 grams
Operating System and Software	Android 2.3 Gingerbread (upgradeable to 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich)	Android 2.3 Gingerbread (upgradeable to 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich)

A closer inspection of its innards will reveal some disappointing details. It has a limited 16GB internal storage and you won’t be able to expand it further than that since it doesn’t have a microSD card slot. You can, however, rely on cloud storage to store files. Its display also has a lower pixel density of 323ppi, making images and text less crisp compared to Xperia S. It has a beefier 1900 mAh Li-Ion battery but it drains faster than Sony Xperia S when mobile data is turned on. When 3G and 4G are not in use, it lasts a little longer than Sony Xperia S.
Camera features are similar in both phones. The 12-megapixel camera supports geo-tagging, touch focus, face and smile detection, 3D sweep panorama, and image stabilization. The 12-megapixel in itself makes it one of the best camera phones. Both also have the same dual-core processors, RAM, and connectivity options. A dual-core Snapdragon may not be a great feature but it’s more than enough for gaming and other tasks. Paired with a gigabyte of RAM, Sony Xperia Ion is both slick and good at multitasking. The phone is shipping with Gingerbread but Sony is expected to release an Ice Cream Sandwich update soon.

Verdict

AT&T is selling Sony Xperia Ion for $99 on a two-year contract; not bad for a high-end smartphone that lets you enjoy blazing fast 4G speeds. It does suffer from one major hiccup – limited storage. Cloud storage may be a modern way of storing photos, music, and files, but it’s not practical considering you have to pay for more than 5GB of space and need data or WiFi connectivity to access them. With that being said, Sony Xperia Ion isn’t for everyone despite its many perks. For the most part, it makes a wonderful option and has an edge over its competitors thanks to its 12-megapixel camera.

Free Xbox Live Gold 12mo - Free 4200 Microsoft Points!

Free Xbox Live Gold 12mo - Free 4200 Microsoft Points!

Before the iPad, tablets were a thing of the professional and business worlds, with normal users not being interested in them and manufacturers not even trying to market them to that audience. The reasons were mainly the high price, low performance and the complicated use – you had to use a stylus, and the operating system for most slates/convertible tablets was, of course, Windows, which isn’t really known for its touch friendliness even nowadays.
But things changed quickly after the iPad was released, and today you can find a dozen different tablets on the market, aimed at every niche possible, including budget models for those who want to spend as little as possible. If you’re going for an affordable tablet, here are some tips to help you chose the best one.

The display

You should pay extra attention to the display – it is the part you’ll be using most of the time, after all. The resolution should be 1024×600 pixels or higher, whether it’s a 10 inch tablet or smaller – anything less will look quite pixelated. The digitizer should be capacitive and support multitouch for the best experience, although most of the time, you’ll be using only a single finger at the time (yes, even when you’re switching between them – as long as two fingers don’t touch the screen, it doesn’t count as multiple touch points).

The processor and amount of RAM

Obviously, it’s wise to look at the internal hardware of the tablet you’re buying, and the processor and amount of RAM are the two most important specs – most of the current tablets already have the minimum recommended specs, but it never hurts to double check. The processor should be at least 1 Ghz and it’s highly desirable that it’s a dual core, although single core models aren’t all that bad. The absolute minimum of RAM a tablet should have is 512 MB, but 1024 is highly recommended if you’ll be installing more than a dozen apps.

The size and weight

The size and weight of a tablet are mostly a matter of personal preference, but there are a few things you should keep in mind. While 10 inch tablets are great for just about anything, they’re also heavier and clumsier to hold in your hands – a 7 inch tablet may be a perfect choice if you find that to be true. The weight is also the most important factor – even 100 grams can make a big difference when you’re holding the device for a prolonged period of time. The thickness also matters, but not that much – for a 10 inch tablet, there isn’t much of a difference between 16 and 10mm, for example (aside from aesthetics, of course).

The operating system and software features

The operating system is very important – fortunately, pretty much every modern tablet uses Android 3.0 or higher (of course, the iPad has iOS, which looks and works about the same in all versions). Android 3.0 has been designed for tablets and brings a whole new UI, sleek and nice and with a lot of capabilities. Of course, if you can find a budget tablet with Android 4.0, you should get it, but 3.0 should be more than enough for anyone.
Choosing a budget tablet is a bit harder than getting an affordable smartphone or laptop – there’s still not enough of them to drive the price lower, but you can definitely find a great model for a nice price, with all the features you might need if you look around a bit – just keep in mind the tips above and you’ll surely get the best device.

Logitech’s Wireless Boombox isn’t the most portable speaker around. But if you want to play music from your iPhone, iPad, or any other Bluetooth-enabled device, it’s something you can take around with you. It retails for $150 and had incredible sound quality. Mini Boombox is $50 cheaper and half the size of Boombox. It’ll fit easily on the top of your hand and charges with a mini-USB instead of a standard USB. But can it live up to the larger Boombox in terms of performance? Or is it just as small as its size?

Design

Mini Boombox measures only 4.55 x 2.8 x 2.28 inches and weighs only half a pound. It has rounded corners and doesn’t have physical buttons, save for the on/off switch at the back. The mini-USB charging port can also be found in the back along with an auxiliary input. When you turn it on, capacitive buttons will light up in red and can be used for controlling music playback. They’re not as reactive as physical buttons but when you press them, they work quite well. The capacitive buttons are to be used for going forward, back, playing, and pausing music. Unfortunately, they’re near invisible under direct sunlight.

I’m pretty sure you’ll love the rubber bottom of Mini Boombox. Because of this design, it easily latches on to slippery surfaces – even your car’s dashboard – without an adhesive. It can stay put for hours at a time before needing any replacement. There’s also an indicator that will notify you of a low battery status. Sadly, there’s no way of knowing that it’s fully charged.

Performance

It easily pairs with Bluetooth-enabled devices that support A2DP but you can also connect devices via its 3.5mm audio output. The iPad, iPhone 3G and later, and iPod Touch 2nd generation and later are among those listed to be compatible to it. What may come as a surprise is that it plays music just as loudly as its bigger brother. It’s something anyone won’t expect from a speaker of this size. The sound coming from its two 3W speakers will easily fill a small room – a performance we usually expect from larger speakers like Boombox and Jambox.

Mini Boombox can never take the place of midrange to high-end speakers in terms of sound quality though you can use it as a speaker for your laptop; in case you decide to watch videos or play music from there. Even if you use it to play music outdoors, sound quality remains good. Battery performance is even more impressive than one would’ve imagined. Mini Boombox can last up to 10 hours of playback when fully charged.

Verdict

Mini Boombox is one of the greatest deals you’ll find when looking for an ultra-portable speaker that retails for $100 or less. It’s amazing how a small speaker such as this can deliver great sound quality. It’s the perfect gadget accessory for those who travel a lot and people who loved the performance of Boombox but aren’t as willing to shell out an additional $50.

Thunderbolt is the next-generation I/O interface that significantly boosts file transfer rates. With transfer rates of up to 10 Gbps, Intel says that it can transfer a full-length HD movie in less than 30 secs. Compare that to USB 2.0 and it is generations ahead in both read and write speeds. Asus today announced P8Z77-V Premium, a mainboard that supports the exact same high-speed interface. It is the first Intel-certified motherboard with Thunderbolt.
Thunderbolt is said to be two times faster than USB 3.0 and 20 times faster than USB 2.0 which remains to be the most widely used I/O technology across most devices. Each Thunderbolt port is capable of reading and writing 10 Gbps and up to six compatible devices can be connected to Asus P8Z77-V Premium. Fully display support with a monitor equipped with either DisplayPort or Thunderbolt is also made possible by a seventh port. But you won’t be limited to Thunderbolt with P8Z77-V Premium because it also includes half a dozen USB 2.0 and five USB 3.0 ports.

Hardware

Specifications	Asus P8Z77-V Premium Motherboard
Form factor	ATX Form Factor, 12 x 9.6 in
CPU	Intel socket 1155 for 3-rd/2-nd Generation Core i7/Core i5/Core i3/Pentium/Celeron Processors; Supports Intel 22nm, 32nm CPU and Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 depending on CPU types
Chipset	Intel Z77
Memory	4 x DIMM, Max. 32GB, DDR3 1066/1333/1600/1800(OC)/1866(OC)/2000(OC)/2133(OC)/2200(OC)/2400(OC)/2600(OC)/2800(OC) Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory Dual Channel Memory Architecture Supports Intel Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) *Hyper DIMM support varies depending on CPU
Graphic	Integrated Graphics Processor Multi-VGA output support: HDMI/DisplayPort/Thunderbolt ports
Multi-GPU support	Supports NVIDIA 4-Way SLI, AMD 4-Way CrossFireX, and LucidLogix Virtu MVP Technology
Expansion slots	4 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x 16 slots 2 x PCIe 2.0 x 1 slots
Storage	Intel Z77 chipset: 2x SATA 6Gbps ports 3x SATA 3Gbps ports 1x mini-SATA 3Gbps ports with on-board 32GB SSD Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10 Supports Intel Smart Response, Rapid Start, and Smart Connect Technology Marvell PCIe 9230 controller: 4x SATA 6Gbps ports Support Raid 0, 1, 10 ASMedia PCIe SATA controller: 2x eSATA 6Gbps
LAN	Intel 82579V, 1x Gigabit LAN Controller Intel 82583, 1x Gigabit LAN Controller Dual Gigabit LAN controllers Intel LAN Dual interconnect between the integrated LAN controller and Physical Layer (PHY)
Wireless Data Network	WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n Supports dual bad frequency 2.4/5 GHz
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.0, Bluetooth 3.0 + HS
USB ports	ASMedia USB 3.0 controller: 2x USB 3.0 ports Intel Z77 chipset: 4x USB 3.0 ports or 6x USB 2.0 ports
Overclocking features	ASUS CPR (CPU Parameter Recall)

Features

One feature of Asus P8Z77-V is multiple SSD caching for installing multiple SSDs without restrictions on capacity. The same feature also allows installation of different HDD/SDD combinations for optimum performance. The onboard 32GB mSATA SSD enables fast boot times and reduces resume times coming from sleep or hibernate. Smart DIGI+ technology boosts performance speeds by up to 85 percent but can also reduce CPU wattage at the same time, cutting it in half.
These are but a few of the many cool features of Asus P8Z77-V Premium. Other functions include real-time network bandwidth control, USB BIOS flashback, and faster USB 3.0 Transmission with UASP. The motherboard also supports ASUS Crystal Sound for an improved audio experience.

SOME PHOTOS I TOOK

ISO : 100
F:4.0

At the peak of NVIDIA’s graphics cards is GK104, better known as Kepler or GTX 680. GeForce GTX 670 is still Kepler in its essence but with less power and a cheaper price. It rivals AMD Radeon HD 7950. NVIDIA claims it is more powerful than the best AMD processors and we are here to find that out.

Design

It’s rarely that we see top-tier graphics cards come in slim packages and GTX 670 is just that. It is compact and lightweight much like GTX 680. It measures only 7 inches long if we exclude the PCIe bracket. GeForce GTX 670 is equipped with one DisplayPort, one HDMI port, and two separate DVI outputs. Shown off during its unveiling is a dual-slot design but NVIDIA remarks some of their partners are opting for single-slot options.

Technically speaking, GTX 670 is GTX 680 because it uses the same GK104 chip. Unlike 680, it has one Streaming Multiprocessor (SM) unit turned off and reduced to 112 texture units from 128. It does keep the 32 ROPs of GTX 680, staying true to its roots.
Specs

GTX 670 has 12% less cores. 192 CUDA scores were nicked off, to be exact, in favor of the lower price point. It is also clocked at the lower 915MHz frequency making it 12% slower than GTX 680. These downgrades are minimal and keeps the graphics card on top-chart performance.
Performance

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 underwent preliminary benchmarks and was compared to GeForce GTX 580 and Radeon 7950. It was first tested with 3DMark7 to assess how it performed against its predecessor and rival.

PODCASTING ?!?

Someone please message me about podcasting what it is and how to start.

lewis2582@hotmail.co.uk

Tegra 3 powered HTC One X vs HTC One S – which is better suited for your needs?

HTC One S and One X belong to the same line of smartphones. With that being said, they share similar designs and technologies. But there are enough differences between the two to make you wonder which is better suited for your needs. For instance, HTC One X is powered by Tegra 3 whereas One S is supported by the dual-core Snapdragon S4. And don’t be deceived by the midrange classification of HTC One S either. One might mistake it for a high-end phone with its 4.3” screen. And so, the war between quad-core Tegra 3 and dual-core Snapdragon S4 continues in this short review of HTC One X and One S.
Design
It only makes sense that HTC One X is larger and heavier with its 4.7” screen but HTC One S is surprisingly thinner, measuring only 0.31 inches. The difference in thickness is minimal but can be felt. The two have ceramic bodies, accounting for their light weight and durability. The polycarbonate material used in both phones have deep coloration. When scratched, the same color will show underneath so scratches are not clearly visible.
Curved corners and edges that taper towards the flat back make them comfortable to hold. The soft-touch feeling of their ceramic bodies adds comfort and gives you the same premium feeling that other HTC phones have. Their front panels are marked by three touch-sensitive buttons for navigation and on the back, they have rear cameras with slight variations in design.
Software
There isn’t any difference between the two in terms of software. The two run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and have Sense 4 as their UI. Among the features of Sense 4 include landscape support for the home screen, an improved email client with threaded messages and layout changes, Smart Sync, full Dropbox integration, the Siri-like HTC Speak, and Guest Mode Scene, Beats Audio compatibility with third-party apps, option to remove ads in the browser using Reader feature, Read/Watch Later for viewing web pages even when offline, Guest Mode Scene for privacy, and general changes on user interface.
Hardware and features
Beginning with specs that are common to the two is an 8-megapixel camera with f/2.0 aperture, LED flash, and Backside Illuminated Sensor (BSI). Camera modes and features like autofocus, High Dynamic Range (HDR), and geo tagging found in both smartphones. Their rear cameras are capable of capturing 1080p videos at 29fps. Also integrated in both HTC One X and One S is a propriety HTC ImageChip DSP for image processing. 1GB RAM,Bluetooth 4.0, single micro USB 2.0 ports which can be used for HDMI, and lack support for expandable storage are three more relevant device specifications these two share.
HTC offers both phones with 50GB of cloud storage. You have no choice but to use micro SIM card with both HTC One S and One X. All other hardware and features vary.
An obvious difference can be noted on their screen size and display resolution. HTC One X is the larger one with its 4.7-inch screen. HTC One S is still sizable though and has a 4.3-inch form factor. As HTC’s flagship Android phone, One X has the better display offering 1280 x 720 pixels and 312ppi on its S-LCD 2 panel. HTC One S only has 960 x 540 pixels and 256ppi but makes up to these lacks by using a Super AMOLED panel for a high-contrast and vibrant display. Another advantage of HTC One X is the scratch-resistant glass protecting its LCD.
While both have front-facing cameras for video calls, the one on HTC One S only has VGA quality. The front shooter of HTC One X has a slightly higher resolution at 1.3MP. Not only that, HTC One X has a larger memory space with 32GB of internal storage. HTC One S limits you to just 16GB. In terms of connectivity, One X has broader support for WiFi networks (WiFi b/g/n/a). HTC One S can’t detect WiFi a networks.
A dual-core Snapdragon S4 powers HTC One S but it’s not to be loathed. 2 out of 3 benchmarks show it performs better than the quad-core Tegra 3 chip inside HTC One X. We often have the misconception that a phone needs more cores to be faster but it truly depends on manufacturers and how these processors are integrated it to work with a device’s software.
Verdict
The Tegra 3-powered variant of HTC One X is obviously the better choice but it’s not for everyone. We only suggest it to people after a massive 4.7-inch screen and need 32GB of internal storage. If you fancy Tegra-optimized games, One X is definitely worth it. But if you are easily satisfied with a 4.3-inc

PICTURE

ONCE AGAIN SORRY ABOUT THE PICTURE PROBLEM

17.3-inch Series 7 Gamer hits US as the first Ivy Bridge powered laptop from Samsung

Samsung showed off a Sandy-based Chromebook last month and with the recently announced Ivy Bridge processor, we won’t be surprised to see them launch a version powered by the new processor. The US gets some luck today because Samsung Series 7 Gamer is now available in stores for $1,900. Though not a Chromebook, Series 7 Gamer is much more powerful and more suited for high-performance tasks like gaming.
Samsung Series 7 Gamer was first spotted at CES 2012 in marigold yellow. Just as its name suggests, the laptop is geared for the gaming industry. The laptop was initially released in Europe but Samsung decided to wait for Ivy Bridge before they launch it in the US. And this is why the gaming laptop is now available in US stores although stocks are limited to the black color option. The price is slightly higher than estimates from 4 months ago but this is only because it has better hardware. The Ivy Bridge CPU is just one of these upgrades.
The US version of Samsung Series 7 will be powered by a Core i7 CPU – specifically 3610QM. Behind its graphics performance is a non-Kepler discrete graphics card, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M with 2GB of video RAM. Without the 28nm Kepler architecture, this model is less efficient at handling power. Asus Zenbook UX32VD is an exception though. Even without a Kepler GPU this ultrabook is power-efficient.
Coming back to Series 7 Gamer, it has a 400-nit 17.3-inch display with 1080p resolution. The 1.5TB 7200RPM hard drive and 8GB flash memory contribute to the speedy boot times of Series 7 Gamer. Battery life is 3.7 hours at its best. Finally, it has 16GB RAM and gets a backlit keyboard.
Gaming laptop Samsung Series 7 Gamer is on sale beginning May 1 in single configuration. It is currently available at Amazon, CompUSA, Newegg, and TigerDirect for $1899.99.

Samsung’s new NX20, NX210 and NX1000 have attractive specs, look a lot like Sony’s NEX

Samsung is one of the fastest growing mobile companies in the world, but they’ve actually been pretty successful for the whole decade – they’re well known in Asia and Europe for their household electronics, and their LCD TVs and monitors are trusted all over the world. They also manufacture all sorts of computer hardware under their own brand and for other companies.
As of late, they’ve been getting into the digital camera market, and they’re actually pretty successful at it – their first models may have been simple point and shoot cameras for those on a budget, but the build quality and more importantly, picture quality, didn’t suffer because of that. Their ILC cameras, on the other hand, are specifically made for the high end market, costing a pretty penny, but also delivering all the features you’d expect from a professional mirrorless camera with a detachable lens.
This year, they’re bringing out a couple of new ILC’s – two upgrades for existing models and a new, budget ILC in the form of the NX20, NX210 and NX1000, respectively. The naming is slightly confusing, so let’s get this out of the way: the NX20 is the high end model, the NX210 is the mid-range and the NX1000 is the low-end/budget ILC – simple as that.
All three cameras are very well built, although the NX1000 is lighter and has a less premium feel to it – thankfully, that does not affect its functionality in any way. All three models have built-in Wifi for easy connectivity, which is pretty nice. Also, the cameras (especially the NX210 and NX1000) look a lot like Sony’s NEX line (even the name is similar) – hopefully, Sony doesn’t get offended.
The NX20 is obviously the model with the most features and functionality. For $1100 (which includes a 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens), this camera gives you practically everything you may need to start shooting great photos AND video. The camera uses Samsung’s own 20.3 Megapixels APS-C CMOS sensor, which is pretty damn good at what it does – it can certainly compete with any other sensor on the market, especially in the same price range. Aside from the lens mount, the camera has an integrated EVF and a swivel 3.0 AMOLED display that is perfect for shooting photos and for monitoring video. The video capabilities are pretty good, too: Full HD is supported at 30 FPS, and there’s a special 2.35:1 format mode at 1920×810 pixels and 24 FPS, which many people might find useful.
The NX210, which will retail for $900, has most of the features of the NX20, except for the swivel display and integrated EVF. There’s also no integrated flash, however that is because there’s a standard hot shoe that you can use for other accessories, and a flash module comes in the package – I’d say that’s a good trade-off. The NX210 is clearly aimed at those who need a very compact ILC with as many features as possible – the camera has the same APS-C sensor as the NX20, with the only feature missing being the extra wide video format. Even the lens shipping with the camera is the same exact model.
And finally, the NX1000 – it’s almost like the NX210, but with several features missing in order to reduce the price. The sensor has been left intact, so you’ll get pretty much the same quality in photos and video as the NX20 and NX210, but the lens included in the package is now a 20-50mm f/3.5-5.6 unit, while the 3 inch screen has half the resolution and is now an LCD unit. There’s no word on the price, but if it’s $700 or less, this camera will be one of the best budget ILCs you can get.
All cameras will hit the stores in May-June this year, so it won’t be long until you can test them out for yourself.

GIVEAWAY!

OK so when i hit 1000 blog views ill do a giveaway

i want the views by the 18th.
sound fair?

the more i get by then the better the give away

also new blog tomorrow and video channel coming soon.

LG Optimus True HD LTE – true HD IPS display, little else worth noting

LG has announced a slew of new smartphones this year, and while the release date of the flagship Optimus 4X HD (with a quad core processor and HD display, as you can tell from the name) is still up in the air, the company is already in the process of releasing the second most powerful handset in their new line: the LG Optimus LTE P930, which will be known as the Optimus True HD LTE.

The new smartphone is basically the European version of the Nitro HD, which has been available on AT&T in the US for several months now. This time, LG is heavily focused on marketing the true HD display and the LTE capabilities – the company is actually among the first to have announced a LTE-equipped handset for Europe, not that it’s really needed there – European 3G is much faster than its American counterpart, actually reaching into the double digit Mbit/s on download.

Hardware features

But let’s get back to the phone. The main attraction of the device is the 4.5 inch, 1280×720 pixels resolution HD display, which is marketed as True HD because LG actually uses a real IPS panel inside it, with all the RGB subpixels intact – the competition’s LCD and AMOLED displays use the PenTile matrix with less subpixels to save power. That’s good for the image quality, but the battery life suffers, which is why LG also uses a larger 1830 mAh battery inside the device (it doesn’t help much on LTE, to be fair).

The other specifications are also on par with the newest smartphones on the market – you can see them in the table below:

Performance

As you can see, the LG Optimus True HD LTE has some pretty good specs inside. The performance of the dual core Snapdragon should be more than enough for most people, and the Adreno 220 GPU is on par with the solutions used in the Droid RAZR and iPhone 4S – not quite Tegra 3 level, but good enough for at least the next couple of years.

Software

Interestingly, the handset will ship with Android 2.3 Gingerbread out of the factory, but an update to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich should be readily available as an OTA update (which you should apply right away – ICS is much better than its predecessors).

Price and availability

There’s no word on the price yet, but you can expect the Optimus True HD LTE to cost about the same as its American counterpart, only in Euro. The phone will be coming this summer in Germany, Portugal, Sweden, as well as Hong Kong and Singapore.

PILOT DREAM !

so guys i dont think you all know that my dream is to become a pilot and the courses are not cheap !
so i added a donate button on the side and i would appriecete a little help getting the money i need, also this will help get the blog upgraded and maybe get a website.

Thanks alot for your help and ill repay you with a competion/giveaway soon !

Lenovo launches IdeaCentre A720 AIO, IdeaPad Y480, and ThinkPad Edge E430 – the first Ivy Bridge-powered laptops

Shortly after the launch of Ivy Bridge processors, Lenovo unveiled a series of computers powered by Intel’s latest lineup. Three new products were announced by the company – IdeaCentre A720 AIO, IdeaPad Y480, and ThinkPad Edge E430.They’ll be powered by quad-core Intel Core i7 and have the latest version of Lenovo’s Enhanced Experience, EE3. And because they have EE3, it takes them an average of 24 seconds to boot while most of their competitors take 41 seconds.

IdeaCentre A720 AIO

This desk-bound, all-in-one (AIO) PC has a 27-inch multitouch display which can be folded down to a point where it lies flat. It ends up being parallel to the tabletop, making it easier to use the touchscreen. Contrary to what Apple CEO Tim Cook believes is “unintuitive” after trashing the idea of MacBook iPad hybrid, A720 feels otherwise. From what we know, IdeaCentre A720 has impressive specs. Under its hood will be a 2.3GHz Intel Core i7 3610QM, 8GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GT 630M chip, and a Blu-ray drive. It can be configured to an HDD (1TB) and SSD (64GB) combo for increased system responsiveness and storage space expansion. It will launch in the first week of June with an estimated price of US $1,200.

IdeaPad Y480

Y480 is basically a multimedia beast with the same quad-core, Ivy Bridge processor as A720. It gets GeForce GT 650M for its graphics card for an enhanced multimedia experience. The dark gray metallic finish of IdeaPad Y480 is new but it has the same one-piece touchpad design as most of its competitors are. Other specs include 8GB RAM and 1TB HDD. The 14-inch model will be available starting next week with starting price of US $899.

ThinkPad Edge E430

This model has the classic look of ThinkPad laptops and even has the red ThinkPad TrackPoint we’re accustomed to. Another not-so-new design feature is its soft-touch lid and standard 14-inch screen. It will be marketed towards business users. Users have the option to choose between a discrete graphics card (NVIDIA GeForce GT 630M) or an integrated one. SSD, HDD, and SSD/HHD configurations are also possible with Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E430. Specs such as 1TB storage, 8GB RAM, 720p web cam, and 5GB cloud storage make it a mainstream option too despite its professional appearance. The laptop will be available beginning mid-May for US $549 which makes it the cheapest of the trio.

Related posts:

HTC One X vs Samsung Galaxy Nexus – HTC is on the right path

The Samsung Galaxy Nexus (well, technically it’s just the Galaxy Nexus) is one of the best Android smartphones you can buy right now. It was released in October 2011, and was the first device to officially run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, which is pretty much the best mobile OS at the moment.

But the competitors aren’t sleeping, and after a year of releasing a bunch of mediocre devices and losing money, HTC seems to finally be back on track. Their new flagship, the One X, is one of the best smartphones announced this year, and it’s a direct competitor to the Galaxy Nexus. The HTC One X will hit the stores in May, and if you’re deciding between it and the Galaxy Nexus, here’s a short comparison of the two.

Design and build quality

The One X and Galaxy Nexus are pretty close when it comes to design and build quality – both have the same rounded edges and back, although the Galaxy Nexus has a curved display, which looks and feels quite nice. Both phones are made out of plastics mostly on the outside, with a nice sturdy metal frame – that’s not going to be a problem since both are pretty sturdy, with the front being covered by a scratch resistant glass. As you can see from the specs table below, both phones also have the same thickness.

Hardware features and performance

Hardware features wise, the One X is a better choice, unless you really like the AMOLED display on the Galaxy Nexus. Sure it is nice, but the IPS Super LCD on the One X is just as good (it has the same resolution, too), and has more natural colors. The other specs are remarkably similar – everything the Galaxy Nexus has, the One X can match, and it also beats it in camera quality and processing power.

The camera in the One X uses HTC’s new ImageSense technology, with a larger lens, backlit sensor and a dedicated image processor that lets you shoot HD video and photos at high resolutions very fast – the auto focus and snap waiting is almost eliminated!

The Tegra 3 inside the One X with the new 12-core GeForce GPU is also much faster than the good old TI OMAP 4460 + single core PowerVR SGX540 combo in the Galaxy Nexus. While you won’t see that much of a difference in everyday use, you’ll definitely like the faster and smoother games, Web browser and other intensive applications.

Software

And here’s why the HTC One X is the better choice if you’re a power user or developer (which are the main demographic of the Galaxy Nexus): HTC offers a free and easy to use unlock tool that lets you unlock your boot loader, bringing the One X to the same level as the Galaxy Nexus in terms of freedom – you can install custom ROMs and tinker with the software/hardware however you want, without having to jump through any hoops. The Android 4.0 with HTC Sense is also pretty nice, although you can easily install a vanilla version of Android.

Specs table

Price, availability and conclusion

Obviously, the One X isn’t out yet, but with a May release date, it’s pretty close, and the price will most likely be close to that of the Galaxy Nexus. HTC has done a great job making a flagship Android phone with the One X, and if you wanted to get the most powerful phone that you could tinker with however you want, the One X is at the same level as the Galaxy Nexus – I’d say it’s a no brainer which one to buy, but it’s up to you to decide!

India gets first Intel-based smartphone tomorrow, UK and China to follow next

Intel wanted to enter the smartphone industry for years and we couldn’t blame them for that. During the last quarter of 2011, smartphone sales went past PC sales for the first time and Intel probably knew this was coming all along. Tomorrow, the company is finally launching Xolo X900 in fulfillment of what they wanted for so long. Xolo X900 is the first Intel-based smartphone.

Xolo X900 will launch in India as a midrange to high-end handset. The phone is a product of Lava, a local handset maker in India. It has an 8-megapixel camera and 4-inch screen like most its competitors are. It will, however, run the outdated Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Last but not the least is the 1.6GHz Medfield processor powering the device. Details of its other specs are unknown not that it really matters though. Its availability may be limited to India and a few select regions where Lava will export their phones.

The arrival of Xolo X900 on the market isn’t unexpected. The chip company initially showed off its reference design at CES 2012. Back then, we knew it was running Gingerbread, had a 1024 x 600 display, and that it was a stiff competitor against its rivals. In fact, it garnered tablet-like benchmarks – and scored higher than Galaxy Nexus – on several tests including BrowserMark and SunSpider. Intel said the same performance should be expected from a phone running ICS. 3D performance tests showed it performs better than TI OMAP 4460 but overall graphics performance wasn’t that impressive.

In terms of power consumption during standby, then-unnamed Medfield-powered phone does a little bit better than Samsung Galaxy S2 and very much ahead of than iPhone 4S. It also takes up the least amount of power when browsing the internet on 3G data. It sneaks up between iPhone 4S and Galaxy S2 on power consumption during 3G calls. The phone only fails terribly on 720p video playback where it consumes 850mW compared to the 500 to 650mW of its competitors.

As for the rest of the world, we can expect Motorola to take the lead in pushing out the first globally-available Intel-based smartphones given its partnership with Intel. It was previously announced that Motorola will release one by second half of the year. Despite having a similar partnership with Lenovo, the Intel-powered K800 is never leaving China. Orange UK already showed off “London” two months ago and said the Intel smartphone is launching this summer.

Apple And Proview Discussing iPad Name Settlement

Proview has been suing Apple in China for the use of the ‘iPad’ trademark, which the companypreviously held the rights to, and they then apparently sold the trademark to Apple, although Proview claims that the sale did not include the use of the iPad name in China.

Now according to a recent report Apple and Proview have entered in to talks in an attempt to come to an agreement on the use of the iPad name in China, and this has been confirmed by Proview’s lawyers. Of course this does not mean that the two companies will come to an agreement, the case could still proceed further in court, as in China companies are required to have discussions in order to try and settle the matter before the court case.

It will be interesting to see if an agreement between Apple and Proview is reached, or whether the use of the iPad name will end up being decided by the courts.

Samsung Galaxy S3 will only be an upgraded Galaxy S2?

Samsung Galaxy S3 will have a 1.8GHz quad-core Exynos chip, 4.8-inch full HD display, 12-megapixel HDR camera, 2GB RAM, – at least, that’s what rumors are telling us. Although outlandish, some of these specs make sense when compared to its rivals. Today’s news is a letdown for everyone because SGS3 will be nothing more than a minor update to Samsung Galaxy S2 said CNET, citing an unnamed source from the UK telecoms industry.
“It’ll be like what iPhone 4S was to the 4”, sources told CNET. Instead of completely upgrading the hardware of SGS2, Samsung will simply bump up its specs and call it Galaxy S3. The source keeps his mouth shut on specs though and doesn’t tell which were improved or retained. We could look at its competitors for clues what specs it will pack though. HTC One X seems to be the only worthy rival of Galaxy S3 as of yet. It has a healthy 4.7-inch display, 1GB RAM, and a 1.5GHz Tegra 3 processor. If Samsung were to compete with it, Galaxy S3 should level these specs at the very least. The 1.8GHz processor may be too far off so only the quad-core Exynos chip and 4.8-inch screen seems plausible at this point.
The tech world mourns over today’s news more or less. Samsung Galaxy S3 is this year’s second most anticipated smartphone next to iPhone 5. If it turns out to be exactly like iPhone 4S – with very few upgrades – not many SGS2 owners would be willing to upgrade their phone and that’s 20 million of them worldwide. We can’t say the same for those who haven’t joined in on the craze though. These are the people that will most likely consider Samsung Galaxy S3 after the huge success of its predecessors.
SGS3 is going to be announced on May 3 at an exclusive Samsung Unpacked event in London. There’s no official word yet about iPhone 5 but rumors point to a late year release.