Review » PowerSkin has goods for the HTC Sensation and HTC ThunderBolt

PowerSkin – the name that is a godsend for those who make heavy use of their iPhones, has now opened the door for owners of the HTC Sensation and HTC ThunderBolt to enjoy an additional boost of power as well as protection from the daily rigors of portable use. The HTC ThunderBolt is one of the first few 4G/LTE handsets out there, and one of its major drawbacks would be the huge power drain on its battery when on 4G networks. Having additional juice on hand is always useful, as you never know when you might need to make that emergency call without a power outlet nearby.

You basically get to enjoy twice the power thanks to the built-in batteries in the respective case, sporting an extra smooth finish on the outside which is made of shock-absorbing silicone, delivering maximum protection in the process.

The HTC Sensation PowerSkin is said to offer the HTC Sensation with, for the lack of a better word, a sensational battery life, letting you enjoy up to another 360 minutes of extra talk time, courtesy of its 1500 mAh of battery capacity.

As for PowerSkin’s HTC ThunderBolt skin as seen above, you will also enjoy a 1500 mAh battery capacity, extending your talk time by another 340 minutes. This skin itself was specially designed to accommodate the full functionality of the phone’s kickstand, while making sure the HDMI port remains accessible at all times.

Both skins will feature optically engineered camera lens window that makes sure your camera will function as it should without any unwanted interference. Not only that, it makes sure that there won’t be any more flash glare from the skin’s surface to spoil the composition of your photos. To juice it up, just plug in the charging cable into a laptop or wall, where the built-in smart technology will get to work right away – cleverly juicing up your handset before it gives the PowerSkin a jolt.

The HTC Sensation and HTC ThunderBolt skins will be out from the middle of this month onwards for $59.99 a pop.

Review » Jabra STONE 2 Bluetooth headset

Bluetooth headsets are dime a dozen, but how many of them are truly unique from the rest? Well, Jabra has been a mainstay in the world of Bluetooth devices since time immemorial, so we are not surprised to see the company roll out another Bluetooth headset that keeps up with the times – known as the Jabra STONE 2. Just what does the Jabra STONE 2 bring to the table? Well, you will have to read on to find out in the extended post, but here’s a little primer.

The Jabra STONE 2 is unique in its own way because it is capable of helping you read aloud a text message or an email – perfect when you need your hands and eyes to be focused elsewhere – like the road, for example. Apart from that, you can also opt to update your Facebook or social network site page using nothing but the power of speech, now how about that?

Voice control would be the keywords here. With the Jabra STONE 2, you are empowered to make, answer, end, redial, ignore and reject a call (even call back) using nothing but your voice. Yes sir, all you need to do is memorize a bunch of easy function-related words, and speak them out when in need – among them include “Call Dad”, “Answer”, and “Ignore”, for a true blue hands-free communication experience.

With Voice Guidance, you too will be able to hear the name of the caller via Jabra STONE 2, according to how the name is stored on the handset. Best to get your phone book in order then, otherwise you might find the Jabra STONE 2 go bonkers when it reads out someone known as B4D45S call. Should the caller’s number not be stored in the phone, the Jabra STONE 2 will proceed by reading out the phone number.

Not only that, the introduction of Voice Applications makes the STONE 2 all the more useful as it will make use of the Jabra World of Apps portal, letting you search for apps quickly, ranging from games to entertainment; voice dialing and translation (and even transcription); and GPS service amongst others. The portal also boasts of voice-enabled applications that lets you send text messages or emails using nothing but your voice, or to read what the latest emails are all about, as well as search for a local business.

This uniquely shaped Bluetooth headset has a talk time of 10 hours and 15 days of standby time, and will come in black and white colors. Which suits you better?

Review » ReCover iPhone 4 Case

Your iPhone 4 might be so 2010, but that doesn’t mean you can bring it back to the days of past gizmos to help it remember the hottest portable devices of yore? Basically, what we’re asking you to do is not step into a time machine, but to purchase the £12.99 ReCover iPhone 4 Case and fit it to your smartphone instead. You will be able to choose from a trio of designs – a game controller, a calculator, and an old school camera.

This is the perfect way to make sure your iPhone 4 remains free from scratches, although we can’t guarantee that it will be able to survive a knock or a long drop to the hard concrete floor. The print of the retro icon will be at the back, and some might even think that you’ve gone insane putting in a game controller into your pocket until you flip it to the other side…

Out of the three, which design would you aim for?

Review » The Otterbox Defender Series Case for the iPhone 4 and iPad 2

I’m not certain why we haven’t reported on more products from Otterbox before, but I had a chance to try out the Defender Series of cases.

The Defender Series for the iPad 2 and iPhone 4 are very much alike. Each of them have a inner polycarbonate shell with a foam interior, as well as a silicone skin case. They also have snap-on covers that allow you to stand up your iDevices. The one for the iPhone 4 has a clip, and the one for the iPad 2 has something like a kickstand.

These particular cases will definitely protect your favorite iDevice from scratching, as well as absorbing shock. I find it hard to believe that these don’t protect from water, and I can see why the official sites for these products make that disclaimer.

My only complaint is that it is very difficult to get the Defender cases on and off the devices. My thought is this: the best suits of armor can’t be put on like pajamas. Don’t let what I just said put you off, as their tutorial videos are a huge help.

If you are interested in this type of protection, then you can go to the official Otterbox site and get the Defender series for the iPhone 4 for $49.95 and the Defender Series for the iPad 2 for about $89.95. I’ll let you decide whether or not this is a high price to pay for this type of protection.

Review » The Mophie Juice Pack Air, in snap mode!

It seems like any time mophie makes any changes to the juice pack air, they make a very big deal of it. We have reported on the juice pack air before, and it is designed to give some extra juice to an iPhone device.

They have now made it a snap. I have tried them out before, and it looks like the only change is that the snap has a removable bottom to make the phone easier to insert. You can see the seam on the removable snap in the picture.

I’m not certain how many of these other features are new, but it has a Standby Switch that can toggle between charging and standby. Then there is the LED Status Indicator that indicates charging mode and current battery life. Oh, did I mention that it has a USB Charge and Sync for when you want to connect to iTunes without removing it from the juice pack?

Like I said, I have no idea how many of these features are new to the snap, but here are the stats: it has additional talk time of 6 hours on 3G, up to 12 hours on 2G. It also has 36 hours of audio playback, and 9 hours of video playback.

You should be able to get the mophie Juice Pack Air snap at the Apple Store for a price of $79.95.

Review » T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide finally announced

T-Mobile has at long last, announced their latest myTouch 4G Slide smartphone which will be part of T-Mobile’s exclusive line of myTouch devices. The myTouch 4G Slide is said to deliver the most advanced camera of any smartphone with zero shutter lag – now this is something that is surprising since Android-powered smartphones tend to fall behind the iPhone when it comes to camera technology.

Having said that, you can’t just waltz into any T-Mobile store at the moment to bring home a myTouch 4G Slide since it is expected to be available only in July – now, now, that isn’t too far away, is it? It is already the end of June, and you can sniff July out around the corner. The naming convention of the myTouch 4G Slide also gives the game away when it comes to 4G connectivity support, so you know what you’re getting with this smartphone right from the get go.

It is said that the myTouch 4G Slide will be accompanied by an 8-megapixel camera with a dual LED flash, coupled with a bunch of other advanced digital camera features such as improved low-light performance, zero shutter lag, SweepShot that lets you capture panoramic shots by sweeping across an entire scene in a single motion, ClearShot HDR to shoot objects in bright settings without being affected by high-contrast lighting, BurstShot to capture multiple photos in a quick burst, support for America’s largest 4G network, and a dedicated dedicated camera button and one-touch access amongst others.

Heck, you can even shoot full HD video if you want to, while all your videos can be edited straight from the device without having to hook up to a computer prior to that. This is a device that will roll off HTC’s production lines, sporting a 3.7″ WVGA super LCD touch-screen display, a slide-out full-QWERTY keyboard if a Swype-enhanced virtual keyboard is not your cup of tea, Android 2.3 Gingerbread and HTC Sense 3.0. A 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor will run proceedings from within in the myTouch 4G Slide.

You can choose from black and khaki colors for the T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide when it finally arrives. Any takers?

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110627007028/en/T-Mobile-myTouch-4G%C2%AE-Slide-Delivers-Advanced-Camera

Review » Nokia N97 mini

Homescreen

* Customize your home screen with your personality by adding widgets live feeds from social networking, news and weather services.
* Add a shortcut contacts and bookmarks on your home screen so that access friends and favorite web pages you just need one touch.
* Keep control of email, calendar and music with special widget on your home screen.
* Move the content throughout the home screen and place it wherever you like with your finger on the screen menyeretkan multi-sensory.

Design

* Communication style with a slim device that favor the smooth metal casing.
* Touch screen multi sensor to adjust the front screen with your personality and scroll through web pages, maps, photos and menu smoothly.
* See web pages, videos, photos and maps in a natural angle 35 degrees through innovative screen 3.2 "tilting.
* Get your message quickly and easily using the QWERTY keyboard on the screen that is very sensitive.

Internet

* Browse the web quickly and enjoy fast downloads via 3G connection or Wi-Fi high speed.
* See web page according to how it looks on a large 16:9 widescreen.
* Watch high-quality video and enjoy a variety of other content on the web with the support of Adobe Flash.
* Interact with various elements of a different page by using your finger and scroll with the current web page on the touch screen can be tilted.
* Access your favorite web content straight from the home screen that can be adjusted.

Navigation

* Locate your exact position to quickly and easily through the receiver built-in Assisted-GPS phones.
* Plan the perfect route from A to B with Nokia Maps preloaded.
* Explore your world and find new places with detailed maps for more than 200 countries.
* Keep moving with the right direction thanks to an integrated compass.

Music

* Take control of your music with the touch of a finger by adding media player widgets directly on the homescreen.
* Manage your music and take your music from a compatible PC with Nokia Music Manager.
* Enjoy excellent sound quality using headphones via Bluetooth connection or a 3.5 mm audio connector.
* Store up to 1700 favorite music on 8 GB of internal memory.

Ovi Service

* Plan the perfect route, do travel to the destination on schedule, and find new places with the full support Ovi Maps.
* Access to Ovi Store with a single touch of the screen and choose from the many applications, games, wallpapers and themes are exceptional.
* Find and buy new music from leading artists of the world with instant access to Nokia Music Store from your home screen.
* Upload photos and high quality video to your favorite networking site to share your experience with some of your close friends.
* Get always the latest email on your device with support for Ovi Mail.

Email

* Set many email accounts immediately and get all your messages on the device when you need it.
* Stay connected with your friends by writing a quick email with the help of a full QWERTY keyboard.
* Distribute high-quality photos with your favorite pictures directly attach to an email.

Contact

* Access your contacts list directly from the home screen by tapping the Contacts icon.
* Stay connected with friends, relatives and colleagues through instant access to Ovi Contacts.
* Get instant notification of your favorite online social network with a specific widget in your home screen.

Photos and videos

* Take a high-resolution photos and DVD quality video using the 5 megapixel digital camera.
* Get sharper images and brighter colors highlight with Carl Zeiss optics.
* Get the best photos in the evening or afternoon with dual LED flash.
* View your photos and videos directly on the big screen via TV-out cable.
* Save high-quality video up to 10 hours duration at 8 GB internal memory, or save up to 30 hours duration on an external microSD card.

Review » Samsung Galaxy Gio (GT-S5660)

Gio Samsung S5660 Samsung displays a sharp, timeless design and fast performance. Smartphone offers features that are useful for all your mobility. Sharing multimedia content easily between all the devices on your network using Allshare. Enjoy live smart phone with Gio!

Timeless Polished Design with 3,2” HVGA Screen

Makeup design of this phone looks luxurious, and show your personal style. Gio phone meets aesthetic but still compact ergonomic design for easy portability and convenient use. Display 3.2 "HVGA it is ideal for viewing photos, videos, browsing and other applications with steady.

Powerful Performance with Borderless Networking

Enjoy the speed and performance advantages of this phone. Without having to wait for the movie or application load times - it all works quickly and without hassle. Wi-Fi b / g / n offers web browsing faster with a broader scope than before, and HSDPA 7.2Mbps download large files to be quickly.

Ultimate Integration

One-stop center for all your messages. Social hub, featuring a quick status check of all the messages on various platforms including email, instant messaging, social networking and SMS. Take advantage of widgets also highly functioning and easier for you.

Entertainment Center

With access to many features of the phone, enjoy fun and entertainment all the time. All of Google Mobile Services are more than 2 million applications from the Android Market available.

Convenience Center

Allshare phone to the TV, computer, stereo system, etc. on a home network so that media content sharing easy. Typing becomes easier. With the Swype, enter text faster by shifting the fingers to form words on the screen rather than push through key per letter.

Mobile Document Assistant

Access your work duties and traveling. Ms. document. Office and PDF can be accessed easily without the help of a PC.

Review » SuperTooth HD Bluetooth speakerphone

 

The SuperTooth HD Bluetooth speakerphone is touted by the manufacturer themselves to be the most advanced model of its kind in the market – anyone out there willing to dispute that claim? It is said that the SuperTooth HD Bluetooth speakerphone has three times the power compared to other models, while letting you communicate across social networks using nothing but just voice commands – hopefully the algorithm is smart enough to serve the needs of non-native English speakers, too.

Among the features of the SuperTooth HD features would include twin speaker V Array technology that comprises of a couple of 2.5 watt speakers and a 5.4 watt amplifier, emitting high-fidelity audio in the process. The built-in dual microphones are capable of picking up voices even more clearly, while the anti echo and DSP control for noise cancellation makes sure you get to communicate the with person on the other end in a crystal clear manner.

With the inclusion of advanced voice commands, drivers are able to answer incoming calls, select pre-dialed phone numbers, check battery level and retrieve voicemail all without having to take their eyes off the road, nor hands off the steering wheel. The SuperTooth Handsfree Assistant feature that is powered by Dial2Do will pave the way for drivers to compose and send Facebook, Twitter, e-mail and SMS messages through voice, now how about that? All those texts will be posted as audio files so that recipients are able to listen to them. Bear in mind that Dial2Do will be free for the first 6 months, costing you at least $3.99 monthly after that.

Other abilities include reading incoming e-mail messages out loud, as well as reading incoming SMS messages out loud (for Android and BlackBerry only). A2DP audio streaming of music, podcasts and turn-by-turn navigation from smartphones and GPS navigators are also part of the treasure trove, while multi-point technology helps you connect up to 2 phones simultaneously. Want to bring home the SuperTooth HD Bluetooth speakerphone? It will cost you $129.

http://maxborgesagency.com/press/supertooth-hd-now-available-%E2%80%93-the-most-powerful-bluetooth-speakerphone-on-the-market/

Review » Jabra EASYCALL headset launched on AT&T stores exclusively

Jabra has been right there from the very beginning where Bluetooth headsets are concerned, I remember the extremely early days when colored displays on cell phones were just starting to proliferate, while those wearing Bluetooth headsets were seen to be like Borg walking on earth. Well, while colored displays on handsets are a given these days, it can still be quite hard to get used to those wearing Bluetooth headsets despite it being rather common.

This means the Bluetooth headset market is alive and kicking, and Jabra is making more than enough money to continue rolling out newer models. Their latest release would be the Jabra EASYCALL headset that is available exclusively at AT&T retail stores and online from today onwards. The EASYCALL is so named because it boasts of easy-to-use, intuitive controls, where it will be accompanied by the Jabra CRUISER2, which by itself is a popular in-car speakerphone that boasts of voice controls and superior sound for hands-free calling on the road, making it a whole lot safer to drive and carry out a conversation simultaneously.

The Jabra EASYCALL is touted to be the perfect entry-level Bluetooth headset option, especially so for one who does not have any previous experience with such a headset. The use of Digital Signal Processing (DSP) technology delivers crystal clear sound and voice, while it has a rather pocket friendly price of just $32 which will not break the bank or this month’s budget, and yet is groovy enough to hook up to a couple of devices simultaneously. This makes it easier to transition between work and family calls.

Apart from that, the EASYCALL will also ship with automatic volume control, next generation StatusDisplay icons for easy viewing, an on-off button slider, and spoken Voice Guidance which lets you know the current battery level and connectivity status, delivering an intuitive and seamless Bluetooth headset experience.

As for the Jabra CRUISER2 which will continue where the hugely successful CRUISER left off (how creative in the naming convention), it will come with improved sound quality, Caller ID, a speakerphone that ‘talks’ to the user, and Voice Announcements which offer audio guidance when setting-up the device and to clearly announce connectivity status and low battery levels. Expect the Jabra CRUISER2 to be the more expensive option at $79.99.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jabra-brings-exclusive-headset-popular-in-car-speakerphone-to-att-stores-124587138.html

Review » The Invisible iPhone prototype

Here’s some interesting App developed by Patrick Baudisch and his team of researchers at the Hasso-Lattner Institute.

As you can see from the video, they have figured out a way to make the iPhone invisible. Actually, they just figured out a way for the user to put the interface on a hand thanks to “an Xbox-like camera”. Special software is able to determine where the fingers are on the palm, and transmit the commands via WiFi radio.

You will notice that the video that the user in the video just touches her hand to shut the phone off. If you want to do something more complicated, that is possible, as Baudisch and his colleagues discovered how two-thirds of all iPhone users can find their apps on their palm.

I suppose that would be interesting if they get this off the ground, but I don’t see an invisible phone working very well, unless there is some invisible Bluetooth headset involved. Considering that most of the apps on the iPhone are pretty visual in nature, making them invisible seems like a bad idea.

In order to do this trick, the equipment is going to have to be a lot smaller. I can’t help but wonder what the future of this is. I hope I will get to see it for myself, not that I can see it now, of course.

Review » lightRadio – There’s a lot of Jack in this Box

I’m probably dating myself, but I actually owned one of the first cell phones, admit it, some of you remember… It came attached to a darn suitcase, and seemed to weigh about 5 pounds. I was pretty proud of it, and come to think of it, the reception was pretty good too! But look how far we’ve come…

As cell phones have become smaller and owning one is now almost compulsory, those unsightly antennas of steel topped by all the necessary transmitters and gizmos that we call cell towers have invaded practically every landscape known to man. So let us welcome Alcatel-Lucent’s lightRadio. Imagine if you will, much smaller antennas, some tiny enough to hold in your hand. A device like that could be placed anywhere, on lamp or utility poles on buildings, heck, anywhere with electrical and network connections. Seriously, a cell tower in a box!

If they can iron out a few details, it could upend the wireless industry and offer amazing service, fantastic voice and data transmissions with no dead spots, fewer dropped calls, and let’s face it, the end of those unsightly towers. Because the antennas will be so much smaller  and can be put in so many more locations, the result is increased signal strength for us all, and who would object to something the size of a Rubiks cube “erected” somewhere near their home?

Alcatel-Lucent also thinks that their new lightRadio can cut both the financial and energy costs of operating a network by 50% or more, because it diminishes upkeep and maintenance costs, energy consumption and because more information can be transmitted at the same time. Gee, I wonder if those claims came to fruition we would actually have our phone bills cut in half. Wait a minute, I’m holding my breath.

Look for these lightRadios to show up sometime soon… you know, if you can find them.


http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/features/light_radio/index.html

Review » Microsoft’s “Mango” – Making Smartphones Smarter

Wow, we do a lot with our phones these days, I often have so much going on all at once It can be a bit frustrating, the phone can only do so much… I’m not sure a smartphone is really as SMART, as it sounds, The smartphone experience is complicated by tons of different apps and accounts that folks like us need to try and keep up with — from making calls, texts, emails and instant messages and then, status updates, Tweets, check-ins, photo posting and tagging. Its all too much, isn’t it?

Well Microsoft Corp. today previewed the next major release of Windows Phone, code-named “Mango,” Mango will deliver more than 500 new features that will actually integrate the entire smartphone experience including all your communications, apps and the Internet. The new “Mango” release organizes information around the person or the group that we want to interact with, not the app we have to use. More on specific features after the break.

Mango allows its users to switch between text, Facebook chat and Windows Live Messenger all within the same conversation. It will group contacts into personalized Live Tiles to see the latest status updates right from the Start Screen and quickly send a text, email or IM to the whole group. Your Twitter and LinkedIn feeds are now integrated into contact cards, and Mango includes built-in Facebook check-ins and new face detection software that makes it easier to quickly tag photos and post to the Web and hands-free messaging with built-in voice-to-text and text-to-voice support that enables hands-free texting or chatting.

Mango is also a Multitasker. Mango allows you to quickly switch between apps in use and allow apps to run in the background, helping to preserve battery life and performance. In addition to including Internet Explorer, the Mango release will connect the power of the Web to the unique capabilities of Windows Phones, such as location awareness, camera and access to apps, to present a way of viewing the Web that is more localized, actionable and relevant.

They really aren’t going to produce a phone that only makes calls ever again, are they?

The “Mango” release will be available for free to Windows Phone 7 customers and is scheduled to ship with new phones beginning this fall.


Source: Â www.microsoft.com

Review » Nokia Oro for that Midas touch look

Love gold? After all, that is the place where investors flock to if they are looking for a safe haven from all the uncertainties that are going on in the world where their investments are concerned. The failing US dollar and Euro have nudged more people to purchase gold over the past year, bringing it to new highs more frequently than ever before.

Why not show the world that you’re rich enough to afford a gold plated cell phone as well? That is where Nokia steps in with the Nokia Oro, a premium brand product (but nowhere near the Vertu’s range of handsets) that will incorporate 18-carat gold plating which is accompanied by a sapphire crystal and leather from one of Scotland’s finest Caledonian herds (don’t let those animals get skinned in vain – purchase a Nokia Oro!).

Rip open the luxurious exterior and you will find similar high grade parts inside as with the rest of Nokia’s more recent smartphone releases. Based on the latest Symbian Anna update, the Nokia Oro will come with pentaband radio connectivity, HSDPA 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity, an 8-megapixel camera that is capable of shooting video in high resolution (720p), and a 3.5″ AMOLED display among others.

It must be said that when you decide to bring a Nokia Oro home, you won’t be making a decision based on a hard spec vs. price comparison, but rather, you will pay more attention to the build quality and materials. Nokia has great plans for the Oro, targeting markets such as the Middle East and Russia where oil money is abundant, and sheikhs and oil barons don’t mind making impulse purchases of 800 Euros and above (yes, that is how much the Nokia Oro will cost before taxes and subsidies).

According to materials designer Robert Lihou, “Our aim was to use the best materials for the purpose. It’s coated with 18-carat gold which has been made scratch-resistant. The leather is from premium Scottish stock. That’s a real sapphire crystal in the home key, which makes it eight times sturdier than glass.”

http://conversations.nokia.com/2011/05/25/gold-ringer-introducing-nokia-oro/

Review » PowerSkin battery case for the Motorola Droid X and X2

 

PowerSkin should be a familiar name for those who love flipping through catalogues and magazines about cases for smartphones, especially the iPhone that has made plenty of third party manufacturers a lot of money over the years due to its popularity amongst users. Today PowerSkin will look at what Motorola has to offer in the form of the Droid X and Droid X2 battery boosting case.

PowerSkin’s flexible smartphone cases will rely on soft silicone rubber to protect your precious Motorola device from impacts as well as scratches, and with its patented XPAL Powered battery technology, you should, on paper at least, expect to enjoy twice the power with a battery life that will be extended by another 8 hours. All PowerSkins are rechargeable and 100% recycled, save for the battery and internal components, so you need not feel guilty about the environment when you purchase this puppy.

PowerSkins for the Motorola Droid X and X2 will cost $59.99 each regardless of either model, what are you waiting for?