Apple iPhone 4 – Successor to the popular iPhone 3GS

At June 7^th after a series of highly speculation and widely publicized leaks, Apple officially announced iPhone 4 the successor to the extremely popular iPhone 3GS. The iPhone 4 is this year’s effort, and overall, it’s a corker. Not everyone will be a fan of the iPhone’s new industrial look and feel. But I think iPhone 4 feels like a truly premium product, on a par with expensive designer handsets such as those made by Virtue. The iPhone 4 is certainly no exception -- in fact, it may be Apple's most successful launch yet.

The Apple iPhone 4 is everything that a new piece of technology should be. It's innovative, attractive, and ahead of its competition. It is the thinnest smartphone in the world, measuring 0.37 inch deep with the highest resolution display ever built into a phone handset. Its special “retina display” has four times the resolution of the iPhone 3GS, and Apple claims the pixels are so small that they can’t be detected by the human eye. That means that icons, text and pictures are pin-sharp on iPhone 4, with crisp, defined edges – making it significantly better the iPhone 3 GS.

It's just a tiny bit thinner from its left to its right edge, because the flat edges mean effectively less casing around the sides of the screen. The overall design screams elegance - from the rounded, individual volume up and down buttons that replace the plastic volume rocker on the iPhone 3GS to the ring/silent switch and the power/sleep button up top. The face and back are made of glass that is specially treated to withstand scratches and oily fingers, according to Apple. The side edging is aluminum, and doubles as the device's three cellular and wireless antennae.

The iPhone 4 uses Apple's A4 CPU, the same processor powering the Apple iPad, which gives you better performance and impressive battery life. As part of iOS 4, the iPhone 4 gains a bevy of capabilities. One of them--multitasking--feels long overdue, but as with Apple's long-awaited cut-and-paste feature, the company delivers on the promise of making multitasking work smoothly.

The iPhone 4 is the first iPhone to feature a flash on its camera (LED), and it also has a micro SIM slot (to save space for other essential inner workings of the handset). There’s also a front-facing video camera for video calling, so you can see - and be seen - by the person you are speaking to. Called FaceTime, it's a truly revolutionary advance in technology. The main camera is the subject of a “whole new camera system” – going from 3- to 5-megapixels, the camera also features a backside illuminated sensor which increases the quality of images shot in low-light. The camera also gains an LED flash, a backlit sensor, and an integrated 5X zoom. The camera now lets you shoot in high-def, at 720p, 30 frames per second; in addition, video gains the tap-to-focus feature already available on the camera.

If we are talking about the connectivity, iOS 4 adds persistent W-Fi, which means the iPhone 4 will stay connected to a hot spot even when it's in standby mode. This could have a negative effect on battery life so we'll be watching. With wake-on wireless, the handset promises to wake from standby when it comes in range of a cellular network. It's not something we were asking for, but we'll take it. Lastly, there's now support for using a Bluetooth keyboard. We haven't had the opportunity to test this feature yet.

So we can say that unlike the 3G and 3GS, the Apple iPhone 4 delivers the lip-smacking sense of anticipation of the original iPhone, and beats that handset for wow factor.

Sony Ericsson Elm - Great Value Mobile Phone

The stylish new Sony Ericsson Elm is a great value mobile phone, which is made out of recycled materials and comes with minimal packaging, is a feature phone that has a lot of the features you’d expect with a high-end smartphone, such as Wi-Fi, 3G, email, apps etc – just without the hefty price tag. Or we can say that, Sony Ericsson Elm is a new member of the Sony Ericsson Greenheart family of devices, handsets that have been produced to deliver a high quality user experience using products and materials that have a lower impact on the environment.

The design of the Elm follows Sony Ericsson’s new human shape design, first seen in the Vivaz and the Xperia X10. Flat on the front with a lovely curve to it at the back, the Elm actually looks great and is really comfortable to use. Furthermore, one can access photos, videos, music and movies via the fantastic Xross Media Bar. They’re stored on the 280MB internal memory, which can be expanded via the MicroSD card slot. 

If you are talking about the multimedia capabilities of the handset, like the phone features Sony's XMB (XrossMediaBrowser) making music, videos and photos easy to browse. It groups things together well, so dive into photos and you not only have the local device photos, but you can also access your Facebook photos there, as well as other web services that you can configure – Flickr , Blogger and Picasa.

The handset comes with GPRS and EDGE connections, both of which are class 10 in conjunction with both microUSB and blue tooth connections. Internet access is available through these handsets inclusion of both HSDPA and Wi-Fi connections that provide the means to access the web at speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps.

Another cool aspect of the Elm is that you can upgrade its storage capabilities to 8GB, which makes ample room for music, video and documents – although this will cost you. The Elm boasts both a high quality 5.0 Megapixel, enhanced by Sony-standard, high-quality Carl Zeiss lens, which includes auto focus and an LED flash. The light can also be used for video recording in low level lighting conditions. Face and smile detection are supported, and the built in GPS chip allows captured images to be geotagged.

The Elm’s excellent music player offers support on a large variety of file formats, including MP3 and AAC. Another big audio application, and new to a non-Walkman handset, is SensMe also included in this handset. SensMe scans your music collection and generates play lists according to a song’s tempo and mood, taking the hassle out of listening to music to that fits your mood. The device also offers video playback, with support for H.263, H.264 and MP4 playback, as well as a You Tube application.

Alcatel OT-808 – Phone with Notebook Look

Alcatel releases another entry-level handset with the Alcatel OT-808 that has a notebook look and feel which should throw anyone off. In another words, we can say that, OT-808 is a clamshell, a style not used as often now as it once was. But this is a clamshell with a difference: a small, slender square shape that resembles a handbag powder compact. This has its benefits and disadvantages. While the square shape allows more room for a strong QWERTY keyboard, it's not comfortable to use. Due to its compactness, there are no designated numeric keys; instead, pressing the shift key turns the left-hand side of the keyboard into keys 0-9, but this is only a minor irritation.

The phone supports a 61mm (2.4-inch) screen and blue-backlit keyboard. Built-in widgets include a calculator, an organizer, a currency converter and a voice recorder. It's an MP3 player and FM radio too. There's a 2-megapixel still and video camera which doubles as a webcam, streaming audio and video to the Internet. It supports microSD up to 8GB and plays H.263 and MPEG-4 video.

Other specs of the OT-808 include social networking integration, e-mail, instant messaging and the Opera Mini Browser, which is about the only real game going in the dumb phone mobile browsing space. Otherwise, you’re looking at the usual features including Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity, an integrated FM radio and dual-band GSM connectivity.

A thin strip of an OLED display on the outside of the phone keeps you alerted to missed calls and new text messages. The internal display is an adequate 2.4 inches and is vibrant and colorful. That screen makes internet pages clear, with quite a large amount of content displayed. The superb Opera Mini browser is preloaded, so you will get web pages especially optimized for mobile that load quicker and show you more of the page. Unfortunately, though, you have to rely on slow EDGE access speeds.

Sony Ericsson Vivaz - Multimedia Expectations

The first thing you’ll notice about Sony Ericsson Vivaz, and most definitely appreciate is that it is sleek, elegant phone with a curved design across the whole phone. Sony Ericsson calls it ‘human curvature’ and we found it most pleasing.

The Sony Ericsson Vivaz is the Japanese-Swedish tech team’s latest handset running on the Symbian S60 v5 platform, replete with snazzy 8.1 megapixel camera and HD video recording, supporting autofocus, with touch focus, face and smile detection and geotagging.. Essentially a successor to the 12MP-packing Sony Ericsson Satio, it’s been billed as the latest in a long line of cool camera-phones from the mobile manufacturer. The main focus of the Vivaz is easy sharing of user generated content, high quality video and images, which can be shared via messaging and the web with family, friends, and anyone else. The open platform also allows users to personalize their entertainment experience by downloading great applications through PlayNow™ and the Symbian Developer Community.

At a relatively small 52x12.5x107mm and weighing lightweight 97g, this device is umber pocketable, yet doesn’t skimp when it comes to the display, serving up a 3.2inch, 360x640 pixels TFT touchscreen.  The Vivaz is shorter, narrower, slightly slimmer which weighs only ninety seven grams & its overall measurements are 10.7cm tall by 5.2cm wide by 1.25cm deep. This handset is easy to hold, carry & use, due to its neat size & overall shape of the casing, making it much easier on a trouser or jacket pocket.

We mentioned media as another plus point - this is mostly down to Sony Ericsson adding in a 3.5mm headphone jack into the mix. It's the second phone the brand has done this with (the first being the W995) and is a real plus point, seeing as it was missing on the Satio.

This gorgeous looking Smartphone comes in a wide selection of colours which include a cosmic black, galaxy blue, venus ruby & a moon silver version. The touch screen has a screen resolution of three hundred & sixty pixels by six hundred & forty pixels & the user can view up to sixteen million colours on this clear touch screen. There are three keys located just below the touch screen which are neatly built in to the casing to enhance both the overall design & usability, as the user can access their call keys with ease.

The device is a quad band GSM phone for complete roaming coverage in all GSM countries and for data the Vivaz utilises HSPA, with uploads at up to 2Mbps and downloads at up to 10.2Mbps supported on the phone. Class 10 GPRS and EDGE support backs this up when outside 3G coverage, and the handset also includes WiFi 802.11 b/g with support for DLNA which should mean integrating your device into an already existing WLAN should be a simple process. For local connectivity the Vivaz supports Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, and there is, almost uniquely for a Sony Ericsson device, a MicroUSB port for connecting to a PC.

Messaging was also pretty good - the screen is smaller than other phones out there, and the resistive screen can be hard to text on, but overall using the phone in landscape mode made for some pretty swift messaging - and push Exchange email from RoadSync is pretty handy as well.

Nokia N900 – Mobile Computer

The latest addition to the Nokia family is the Nokia N900 first device running with Linux-based Maemo software, a new OS that takes the best of Nokia's internet tablet range and stuffs it into a phone-sized chassis and takes us into a new era of mobile computing.

Well, you all are worried about the Maemo OS; it’s an open source Linux technology, which means developers are free to create apps for it. Intuitive and flexible, it makes Symbian look antiquated. Swipe through four home screens, each fully customizable with website shortcuts, RSS feeds, applications (that update live), contacts and shortcuts to your address book, calendar, web etc. You could have one home screen for work, one for your personal life and one for all your favorite web links.

The first thing you notice about the N900 is its size. It's certainly hefty at 110.9 x 59.8 x 18mm, and the weight of 181g means it's not going to win any slimming contests either.  At the heart of this mobile computer is its powerful 600 MHz processor and up to 1GB of application memory. The superscalar ARM processor delivers exceptional power and enables you to run all your applications quickly, smoothly, and simultaneously.

The Nokia N900 mobile computer features a sharp 800 x 480 resolution 3.5 inch touch-screen display and a fully integrated QWERTY keyboard, which is practical for typing comfortably. However, this also contributes to the thickness of the N900. The WVGA (800x480) touch display is superb and it is surprisingly accurate, it's practical to put the cursor wherever I want.

Furthermore, it features a 5 mega pixel digital camera with dual-LED flash and a lens cover on the back. There is a VGA front camera too. By default, the N900 takes 3.5mp photos. You can change this to 5mp in options. It does not include all the camera options from previous N series cameras. It’s missing sequence, contrast, color tone, self-timer and sharpness that are found in the Nokia N97. Video on the Nokia N900 went both forward and back. The N900 is also capable of shooting at a higher resolution of 848 x 480 pixels, but lower max speed of 25 fps. On the other hand, the best way to enjoy the N900 as an entertainment device is to copy media files to it. There's ample room (up to 32GB internally+16GB via micro-SD) and that's how you'll get the best image quality for the videos.

The web browsing experience is closer to what it’s like using a computer at home than other phones. It loads the full pages of my most visited sites accurately and fast too. It will show flash objects like ads, embedded videos, or even games. It’s powered by Mozilla Technology and includes Adobe Flash 9.4 and full AJAX support.

Nokia X3 – Ovi Phone Launch Overseas

The Nokia X3 is the first S40 device with Ovi Store enabled on the device with smallish 2.2-inch QVGA screen and dedicated music keys. Coming in a sleek, slide style, the Nokia X3 really looks the part. Destined as a music focused device, the Nokia X3 delivers a wealth of features in a compact, easy to use phone. Closed, the phone shows a large 2.2 inch TFT display, supporting up to 256,000 colors, with a QVGA resolution. One of the more interesting extra features of the handset is the presence of a built-in FM Radio aerial – something that is quite rare these days.

The X3 also sports an active home screen where users will be able to see their contacts, friends and current music playing. Music lovers will also be able to continue listening on flights thanks to flight mode. There’s a 3.2 mega pixel camera that takes decent still snaps and impressive video clips. Shoot, edit and share video clips to Face book thanks to the pre-installed software, or geo-tag and upload to Flicker directly. There’s an FM radio with RDS. And the stereo speakers have to be, well, heard to be believed! You can take complete control over your music over Bluetooth or by using the standard 3.5mm headphone jack along with the dedicated music button.

The X3 enables users to discover, download and keep any and every track they want from the millions available in the  Nokia Music Store*. The Nokia X3 also supports side-loading from PC - and comes pre-loaded with sample audio tracks and music videos from leading artists. This phone supports Bluetooth® wireless technology which allows the user connect wirelessly to other compatible Bluetooth® devices when the user wishes to transfer data between the two devices. The X3 works over a quad band GSM network & the phone will automatically switch between GSM networks to provide the user with worldwide network coverage. The network coverage may differ between handsets depending on the user's network service provider. This phone comes with 2 gigabytes of Micro SD™ memory including with the phone but the user can add a Micro SD™ memory card up to 16 gigabytes in size. The Nokia X3 provides its user with fast data transfer rates thanks to the phones built in EDGE & GPRS technologies.

Supports a range of formats like AAC, AAC+, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, eAAC+, M4A, MIDI Tones (poly 64), MP3, MP4, SP-MIDI, True tones, WAV, WMA. There are also a wide range of scene modes like automatic, manual, landscape, portrait, night and night portrait which gives you a perfect photographic experience. In short, the Nokia X3 slider is a 3.2-megapixel camera phone, equipped with a diminutive frame and 2.2-inch screen. Stereo speakers, dedicated music keys and support for up to 16GB of storage via microSD card make for a nifty mobile music device.

Nokia X6 Ultra Slim Mobile Phone - Perfect Mix of Smartphone & Music Player

The new Nokia X6 is a fashionable & sophisticated 3G Smartphone which comes with a fabulous looking casing complete with a wide selection of user friendly Smart phone feature and square for music lovers, since it provides up to 35 hours of uninterrupted music. It is managed to steal the show with some exciting new looks and the lovely title of being Nokia's fifth proper touch phone. The Nokia X6 feels like a better version of the Nokia 5800 Xpress Music, with a capacitive touch screen and sleeker looks. With massive on-board storage and access to a huge catalogue of free music, the X6 is worth a look for music lovers.

The X6 comes with a high capacity lithium ion battery, which along with giving top standby times of up to 420 hours and a talk time of up to 8 hours, allows for music playback for up to 35 hours from a single charge. The X6 will be sold as a ‘Comes with Music’ device, meaning you’ve got unlimited access to all the millions (upon millions) of tracks available on the Nokia Music Store. Furthermore, Nokia X6 is a 3G HSDPA capable Smartphone which allows its user to gain high speed connectivity when connecting to the Web & the user can enjoy multi use of features on their Smartphone. This handset supports HSCSD & EDGE technology which allows the user to experience high speed transfer rates when transferring data between their Smartphone & other devices.

Look wise, the phone is hard to beat. The device is ultra slim and super sexy. The color combination of blue on white and red on black is simply fascinating. The overall dimension of the phone is 111mm x 51mm x 13.8mm. It weights 122 grams only and hence it is quite light to hold. Moreover, the sleek design of the phone is quite handy and can be easily carried on the back pocket of your jeans. Its touch screen has a 640 pixel by 360 pixel high resolution display which makes viewing videos & images a high quality viewing experience for its user. This screen is 3.2 Inches in size when measured diagonally & the user can experience a 16.7 high colour display. The Nokia X6 has an outstanding amount of built in memory which means the user can store all their data with ease on the thirty two gigabytes of internal memory.

The X6 Phone comes with 5 mega pixel camera with 2592 x 1944 pixels, Carl Zeiss optics Lens equipped with auto focus technology, Dual LED flash, video light and many more. The X6 supports a HTML, WML & XHTML Internet browser allowing the user to view all their favorite websites on their Smartphone & the user can set up RSS feeds to stay in touch with all the latest updates or news from their preferred websites. This phone definitely looks cooler than the current crop of phones including Samsung and LG models and all with a powerful OS and a huge collection of Apps and it’s a true heavyweight device, which is in sure to take the market by storm when released.

Motorola Milestone Mobile Phone Overview

In the past the Motorola brand was all style with little substance, this time they are back with a strong line of devices, all set in Smartphones market. Here, we are talking about the latest Motorola Android device, the Motorola Milestone which is known as the Motorola Droid in the US. Motorola Milestone delivers a richer Web, smarter messaging and top-of-line media features, all on the thinnest QWERTY slider available. The Motorola Milestone is a significant launch and it will be the first handset to run Android 2.0, the very latest version of the software bringing a whole host of new services to the consumer, as well as offering many development opportunities for the programming communities.

Android 2.0 offers more functionality improvements over 1.6, rather than visual flair or excitement in the same way that perhaps Apple concentrates on. But it's the little things that can soon add up to make it better than the sum of its parts. Furthermore, the first thing you'll notice about the Motorola Milestone is the build quality. Starting at the front we have a 3.7" transflective, capacitive touch screen display which is capable of 16.7 million scales which explains why the image on-screen looks so good. Below the screen there's a couple of touch-sensitive 'buttons'. Moving on to the left side of the handset you'll find the Micro USB sync/charge connector. Round to the right we can see the dedicated camera button, which is a fetching gold color. On the top of the device we have the 3.5mm headphone connector that will allow you to use either your own standard headphones or the included wired headset. The back is almost completely flat with the exception of a slight lip at the top and bottom of the handset. These help to protect the 5 mega pixel auto focus camera and the dual LED's from damage when you place the handset on its back on a desk.

The phone is noticeably thinner than before, coming in at just 13.7mm thick, which is impressive when you realize that it packs a full QWERTY keyboard into that frame as well with a five-way navigation key at the end, which is ideal when web browsing or navigating through documents. The newest Google features let you use your voice or your fingertips to search for what you want. Find anything on the web or on your phone including contacts, applications and more. The Milestone having a 5.0 Mega pixel camera, with auto focus and Dual LED flash. Video recording also scores well, with the Milestone able to record up to D1 quality (720 x 480) at 24fps. With it’s built-in GPS and electronic compass you arrive at the right place with MOTONAV spoken turn-by-turn directions. The optional Phone Holder transforms your phone into a hands-free, personal navigation device with satellite location.

Mobile Phones Best Contract Deal: Apple iPhone 3G S Review

Mobile Phones Best Contract Deal: Apple iPhone 3G S Review