Browser Wars: Speed & Benchmark comparison

It's been a while since we last compared the marvelous mobile web browsers that we have at our disposal. So, after many new versions and updates, as well as entirely new offerings in the area, we decided it's finally time to put the leading browsers through their paces.

We decided to make a speed (page loading) and benchmark browser comparison featuring the following contenders...


THE CONTENDERS

• ICS Stock
• Chrome
• Firefox
• Dolphin
• Opera Mobile
• Safari

THE RULES

The first test in the comparison has to do with speed! We're comparing the time needed for all browsers to load a set of web pages. With each browser, we loaded every page three times, with the first time being performed after a restart of the device. The purpose of this is to take into account both first-time and consecutive loading times of the web pages. In the first table below, you'll see the average timing achieved by each device for every page, as well as an average time figure, which is the average of the device's timing for all four pages.

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Samsung Galaxy S III gets four new color versions

The Samsung Galaxy S III, the hottest Android flagship device on the market right now and in the past couple of months, is now officially getting four new colors. The Galaxy S III will soon start shipping in Amber Brown, Garnet Red, Sapphire Black and Titanium Grey, in addition to the existing Marble White and Pebble Blue versions.

The nature-inspired Samsung Galaxy S III is a gorgeous device and we’ve grown in fact really accustomed to and fond of the Hyperglaze finish on the plastic body. Samsung calls it “organic experience” and the same soft glazed plastic is used in the four new color versions. In reality, the Hyperglaze finish also creates the illusion of dual colors, adding more depth to the overall design.

Looking back at the four new colors, we’ve already seen two of them. First, the red one leaked out as an AT&T-exclusive and then black one surfaced around the Olympics. The other two Samsung managed to keep a secret - the titanium grey conveys a cold, business tone while the amber brown looks like the complete opposite with a very warm, cozy undertone.

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Apple's thermonuclear legal strategy scores a big win

Apple’s “thermonuclear” strategy against Android scored its first major victory against Samsung tonight, including a giant $1 billion dollar judgement. Though largely in Apple's favor, they failed to win some key rulings and so they won’t be able to slow down Samsung (and other current Android devices) as much as they had hoped.

In particular they failed to win any design or trade dress protection for the iPad. As a result tablet design and most current Samsung phones (as well as other Android handsets) that don't look like the 3G won't infringe on Apple's design patents. For the tablet market in particular this means competition will continue apace.

Samsung didn't win on any of its utility patents, and as a result will not receive any compensation. In contrast to Google's emphasis on prior art and making defense against Oracle about patent validity, Samsung reduced the time spent on invalidity to devote more time to non-infringement arguments and counter claims. Given the vast difference in outcomes between Apple v. Samsung and Oracle v. Google that strategy will probably be questioned.

In fact Samsung's entire legal team will probably face some uncomfortable questions in the coming hours, as their lawyers often appeared less prepared than Apple's legal team (and Google's before them); during closing arguments for example the Samsung team ended up having to skip huge swaths of their defense, despite

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Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Review

Introduction:

Perfection is something that most manufacturers strive to achieve with their products, and as we all know too well, Samsung isn't a stranger when it comes to delivering the goods. Has it really been 6 months since we first feasted our eyes on the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 back at Mobile World Congress? Yes, and during the time, the note-taking focused tablet has received its redesign to better have it ready to take on the competition head on.

For a second though, it makes anyone wonder why they would even unveil something that wasn't up to the expectations of being a viable competitor. Whatever is the case, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 is here in the flesh – freshly packing some upgraded internals, while presenting itself as the premier paper and pen replacement. Donning a $500 starting price point, it's sure to fit in nicely with the existing crop, but in a world where novel features are perceived to be tertiary things with consumers, it's going to take more for the Galaxy Note 10.1 to establish itself in the same premier class as its rivals.

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My Comments and review of the Samsung Galaxy S3

Please share with you the feel of his first and fastest on the final boss of the Samsung handset as well as the Android world. As tradition, it is still a phone with the most powerful configuration with hardware and manufacturing quality is not much different than the previous high-end phones from Samsung. A new point is Samsung so much attention to the utility software and user interface with the machine than just running on the hardware.

For Samsung Galaxy S3 is trump to help the company succeed in the mobile phone market so what is the latest, most advanced of them are shown in the S3. Through the success of the Galaxy S and as former Galaxy S2, S3 will inherit a lot of fame as well as our carry responsibility hero. The test for the most stupid of S3 may be mentioned that the HTC One X, Nokia Lumia 900 and the iPhone 4S or the iPhone is about to be introduced.

In this quick review I will talk about the hardware, screen, camera, interface as well as other gadgets that Samsung would like to emphasize. As for performance, strength hardware, pin, I'll share with you after longer use. Need more time for a detailed review. But I think a quick review will also help to share some information that you are interested to S3 to know.

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Facebook and Pandora get Android updates with new features

It's apparently official Android-update day for some big-name apps, with both Facebook and Pandora adding new features today.

Android users can more easily upload their photos to Facebook thanks to the latest app update.
Rather than ponderously uploading each photo one by one, the photo upload feature now allows users to select multiple images to upload in one fell swoop then tag and caption to your liking.

The Facebook app also adds the ability for users to create events right on their Android device, something still lacking from the iOS Facebook app.
Facebook messaging also gets an enhancement with the ability to now include emoji characters and photos in your messages.

Opening Pandora's app

Online radio app Pandora also sees an update today on Android, bringing it up to speed with the last month's updates to the iOS app.

The update gives Pandora a revamped UI, improving app navigation and giving it a blue and white color scheme that bears a striking resemblance to Facebook's own.

In terms of actual features, the Pandora app also now lets users browse song lyrics and artist bios on their Android device.

Users can also rate and review songs that they have heard, as well as view similar tracks and artists to find new music.

Both the Pandora and Facebook app updates are free to all users, and can be downloaded straight from the Google Play store.

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Galaxy S3 gets early Jelly Bean ROM update

Samsung Galaxy S3 users have had to sit back and wait while the likes of GSM Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S owners enjoy their official update to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. It looks like good things are coming to you soon though, as it has been confirmed that a leaked version of Jelly Bean has now become available for those that are already rooted.

If you often delve into the custom opportunities that are available via places like the XDA Developers Forums, then it looks like you’re going to be very happy over the weekend. A video has been put online showing the leaked build of Jelly Bean running on the Galaxy S3 and the good news to report is that it looks like a very stable build indeed.

On first glance, there doesn’t appear to be too many visual changes from the experience you’re currently used to on Ice Cream Sandwich. Touchwiz is still very much at the forefront of the device running Jelly Bean, although you will now get instant access to the exciting Google Now features which provide a service akin to that of Siri for iOS.

 There doesn’t appear to be any major features missing from the leaked build, although judging by some of the feedback we’ve read, you may want to hold off until Samsung pushes this out officially. The build number has been identified as I9300XXDLG4 and you can find the download link as well as full instructions on how to install over at the XDA Forums here.

Have you installed this early preview of Jelly Bean on your Samsung Galaxy S3? If so, let us know how your phone is handling at the moment – any problems with performance or is everything working smoothly? Let’s hope that this is a clear indication that Samsung will be sending out the official OTA update soon.

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Olympic medal count for 2012 on iPhone

Following on from the Olympics opening ceremony and apps that featured live video streams we now wanted to highlight some more useful apps, which provide details on the Olympic medal count for 2012 and also feature a tally table.

 This allows sports fans to keep connected to the latest news while mobile, and if you have Android or an iOS device like the iPhone, then these apps will help you keep up with the latest news and Olympic medal count for London 2012.

The official London 2012 app delivers the results first – this is one of the best apps for providing the latest 2012 Olympic news, and the recent update to version 1.3 included media optimizations and speed improvements.

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Top tablets under £300 - Best cheap tablets 2012

The new iPad still rules the roost as the best tablet in the world, but with prices starting at £399 and rising all the way to £659, it's clearly priced in a bracket way above many people's budget.

Because Apple offers its leading devices at sky-high prices, those wanting a more affordable tablet experience will have to look elsewhere, since iOS is not an option. The main port of call is Android - unless you think the iPad Mini will end up coming in at less than £300.

The Google developed operating system now adorns a multitude of tablets, from those priced at the same lofty heights of Apple's offerings, to those that can be picked up for £100 at your local supermarket – although we'd advise against purchasing most of these, and instead check out the superior options below.
If you can't quite hack the lower offerings, and you've managed to scrape together enough money to indulge in a pricier tablet experience, then take a gander at the following:

1. Google Nexus 7

• Price: from £159
• OS: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
• Review score: 4.5/5
• With a quad-core processor, beefy 12-core GPU, 7-inch HD IPS display and being the first device to run Android Jelly Bean, the Google Nexus 7 is quite simply the best budget tablet out there.

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Top Android Tablets In The World

If you're looking for a tablet and don't fancy an iPad, then Android is currently the way to go. (Don't know what an Android tablet is? Check out: what is an Android tablet?)

There are other options out there; Windows 7 tablets are available, the BlackBerry PlayBook is on sale now and the HP TouchPad has come and gone in a flurry of £99 ($150) panic-buying. But Android 4.0 (soon to be Android 4.1) is currently the main OS rival to the iPad, and the products are still making their way onto the shelves.

We've saw the launch of Nvidia's next-generation Tegra 3 chip which has taken 2012's quad-core Android tablets to new heights. The likes of the Asus Transformer Prime are beckoning in the new era, and the iPad is starting to feel the heat.

Some tablets have 10-inch screens, others seven, and there are big differences in battery life, processing power and on-board RAM. So while we wait for the likes of the Amazon Kindle Fire 2, let's see what the current best tablets are...

1. Google Nexus 7

Manufactured by Asus to Google's specifications, the Nexus 7 ushers in a new era of affordable, quality Android tablets.

Packing a Tegra 3 quad-core processor, 12 core GPU, 8GB and 16GB internal storage and 7-inch 1280x800 screen, the Nexus 7 certainly has the skills to pay the bills, but at a highly attractive price point.
Laughing in the face of its closest rival, the Amazon Kindle Fire, it looks like Google has got the budget end of the tablet market all wrapped up, that is until the Kindle Fire 2 and iPad Mini come to the fore.

Quick verdict

A quad-core processor, beefy GPU and the first device to run Android Jelly Bean, the Nexus 7 certainly packs a punch. It may not tread a lot of new ground, but the Nexus 7 is a solid performer and easily the best tablet a couple of hundred bucks/pounds can buy.

2. Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime

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Fujitsu Stylistic M532 Reviews

After Fujitsu's unimpressive tablet debut with the business-focused Stylistic Q550, we weren't holding out much hope for the Japanese company's follow-up, the Fujitsu Stylistic M532. As it turns out, we needn't have worried.

Fujitsu has executed a complete U-turn and given us a tablet that can compete with heavyweights such as the Toshiba AT200, Asus Transformer Pad 300 and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.

Although the Fujitsu Stylistic M532 is aimed primarily at business users, Fujitsu has dropped the Windows 7 operating system of the Stylistic Q550 and opted for Android this time around. There could be no other way.

Although Windows 7 offers by far the widest number of business applications, its performance on a tablet compared to Android is like comparing Sunday league football with the Premier League.

Not only is the Fujitsu Stylistic M532 offering Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich right out of the box, it also has an Nvidia Tegra 3 processor tucked inside running the whole show, 1GB RAM, 32GB SSD storage and an 8MP rear-facing camera.

So, when it comes to performance, Fujitsu has certainly made sure the Stylistic M532 has got the minerals.

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Surface Tension: will Microsoft's new tablet really be cheap?

Has Microsoft gone mad? That's what this week's top tech rumour suggests: Microsoft apparently plans to sell the Windows RT version of its Surface tablet for thirty-two pence.

Well, $199, but that's pretty much the same thing: that's the same price as a Nexus 7, which costs considerably less to make and which Google isn't making money from.

Our very own Gary Marshall isn't convinced. "If Surface is as good as it appears to be, it'll sell even at iPad-esque prices; it doesn't need a Poundstretchers price to make it competitive," he writes, before reaching for his tinfoil hat.

"I'm beginning to wonder if the low price thing is actually a smear campaign by Microsoft's aggrieved OEM partners. 'Let's tell everyone the Surface is $199!' they cackle. 'Then when Microsoft says it's $399, everybody will be like OMG Micro$oft sucks!!!!! and we'll win the internets!'" Our money's on a price tag of $399. We'll see you down at Paddy Power.

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Comparesion Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 vs Apple iPad 3

Ever since the first iPad came out in 2010, tech companies around the world have tried to match its success, in about the same manner that many tech companies have tried to match the success of the iPhone ever since the first version came out in 2007.

 But, unlike the iPhone situation, and despite the abundance of Android tablets that have hit the shelves since 2010, Apple has managed to stay ahead of everyone else in the tablet market. But, as was the case with the iPhone, Apple is now starting to feel the heat from Android manufacturers.

With that being said, I find it very curious that Samsung was not able, up until now, to manufacture a proper competitor to the iPad. Basically, no Galaxy Tab model was able to match the experience offered by the iPad, despite the fact that some models are priced almost equally with the Apple tablet.

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The best Android smartphones you’ve never heard of

Brands matter! Now if you’ll please pardon what could possibly be the worst introductory sentence ever, let me explain: brands might be evil (they have plenty of tactics for destroying the competition), they ruin all major TV events with those pesky multimillion dollar commercials, and some say that brands might even use mind-control nano-chips in their products to keep you loyal (although this is still to be proven), but all in all, brands definitely matter to most of us. And that’s almost entirely due to one thing and one thing only: you know what to expect!

If we’re to go into details, I for one sure know that a Kinder-made treat will be sweet, delicate and slightly more expensive than other unbranded treats. I know that a BMW will usually have a lot more character and sportiness than a classy Mercedes Benz. I know that a pair of Beats headphones are too expensive for what they have to offer, in the same way that I know a U.S.-made Fender Stratocaster will give me a way different (and better) sound than a considerably cheaper rip-off (say, Squire for example). And I know all this not because I was “told so” by the commercials or the nano-chip, but instead trough actual, real-world experience.

From an Android blogger perspective, I find that brand Android smartphones and tablets (think Samsung, LG, HTC) are more than often the best devices you can get, period. Even if the price for a Samsung tablet, for instance, is noticeably higher than the price of an Archos tablet with similar specs, I would still recommend that you go the Samsung way, if you can afford it. Granted, these examples are not edificatory, but you should get the point nevertheless.

Q: What is there to do when you desperately need an Android smartphone that has top-notch specs but are unwilling to spend heaps of cash on some of the most popular brand smartphones such as HTC One X or the Samsung Galaxy S3? A: You go for an unbranded smartphone!

Throughout the rest of the article, I will point out the no-brand smartphones that feature good specs, but first, you might want to learn about the top 5 reasons not to choose a cheap smartphone, then take the decision that you deem fit for your needs.

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Samsung asking for $421.8 million in damages in its counter-suit against Apple

The Samsung versus Apple legal war is almost over, at least in the California trial. Samsung has now rested its case, after letting us know just exactly how much they were seeking if they won their side of the infringement suite. While Apple is asking for a staggering 2.5 billion, Samsung’s claim is a bit smaller in comparison, though still very much a large sum at $421.8 million.

There are several patents that Samsung says Apple infringed upon. The first three are utility patents covering things like email, photo browsing and music playback. When Apple infringed on these patents, they really didn’t cause Samsung any loss of sales, so the amount being asked is simply what they would have charged Apple for licensing the royalties for them. These three come to a total of $22.8 million.

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How to Download YouTube Videos and Convert YouTube to iPad 2?

Love YouTube videos? Now you can download and keep these videos from YouTube and save as your own personal collection. BlazeVideo Video Magic is smart, high speed and easy to use YouTube video downloading software.

But, wait, it’s more. For Apple fans, the new iPad 2 is a perfect gift that should never be missed, for its perfect performance for watching movies with its big and high-resolution screen. From HD movies, TV shows, or music videos, you may like to watch them on iPad 2 in order to enjoy them anytime and anywhere conveniently.

 However, the popular video formats in current market such as FLV, WMV, AVI, MKV, ASF, AVCHD, etc. are not supported by iPad 2. To play those videos on iPad 2, you must need to convert movies to iPad 2 playable video formats first. BlazeVideo Video Magic is also designed to solve this problem perfectly!

All Things You Need

• A computer or laptop in Windows operating system (Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, or its earlier)
• Has the latest version of BlazeVideo Video Magic installed correctly

How to download YouTube videos

BlazeVideo Video Magic offers you a direct way to download and save favorite videos from YouTube with ease.

Step 1 Prepare your YouTube video URL

Go to YouTube site, find out the video you want to download, and copy the YouTube video URL.

Step 2 Download YouTube video

Click “YouTube download” button in Video Magic to open “Video Download” window. Then paste the URL of the YouTube video you want to download in the “Enter YouTube or Yahoo Video URL to download” field. Press the “Download” button.

How to convert YouTube video to iPad 2

Video Magic enables users to convert the YouTube videos as soon as it is downloaded from YouTube. Or, users are able to convert any FLV videos that you have downloaded and saved in hard drive at anytime and anywhere. See how it works:

Step 1 Add the YouTube video files you want to convert

After downloading, install and run the video converter software BlazeVideo Video Magic. Click “Add files” button to select the FLV videos you want to convert. To save your time, batch video conversion is supported by this video converter. You can also drag and drop the videos to the source pane in order to import the FLV video files correctly.

Step 2 Select iPad 2 as output format

Select “iPad 2” under “Profile” > “Apple” as the output portable device. This video converter software also provides to preset the video settings for you. If you are a video professor or video-maker fan, you can customize the video parameters in Video Magic. You can click “Settings” button beside the “Profile” area, and then change the video resolution, encoder, frame rate, sample rate, channel, bitrate, etc.

Step 3 Convert your YouTube FLV video file to iPad 2 and put the converted movie on to your iPad

Now everything is OK. Press “Start” button and the video converter software will automatically complete the left to convert your FLV video to the video format that is supported by iPad 2. After the conversion, click the “Location” button to locate the converted iPad friendly video file and add it to your iTunes library. Then make your iPad 2 connected on to computer and sync iTunes with iPad 2. OK, just enjoy your movie via iPad 2 on the go!

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How to play HD movies on Nokia N97?

HD movies refer to any video system of higher resolution than standard movie, and commonly refer to resolution of 720p, 1080i and 1080p. Usually HD movies can not be played on mobile phones. How can you play those HD movies on your Nokia N97?

Nokia N97 – a nice video playback device

With 3.5-inch, 360 * 640 pixels resolution TFT touch screen; 32GB internal storage, 128MB Ram, 16GB extension; 5MP, 2592 * 1944 pixels video camera; Symbian OS v9.4, 434 MHz ARM 11 processor, Nokia N97 is definitely a nice device to watch videos. As a mobile phone, it is no exception that format restrictions do exist. Nokia N9 does not support HD movies but WMV and MP4 format.

So if you want to play HD movies on Nokia N97, you need to convert HD movies to the format supported by Nokia N97. There are many video converter in the market, which it the best one suits your need. Video Magic from BlazeVideo absolutely is your best choice. Why? Fast speed, comprehensive ability, no virus or no plug-in, these are the basic elements, and it has extra functions such as video editing, video downloading, iPhone ringtone creating and picture slideshow making functions.

How to convert HD movies to Nokia N97：
1. Download Video Magic, install it on Windows computer, run it.
2. Load HD movie onto the program.
3. Select Nokia N97 as output format.
4. Specify a folder to save video.

5. Start to convert.
6. Transfer video to Nokia N97 and enjoy.

Video Magic is able to convert videos for many portable devices, you can view in the Drop-down Window.

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Samsung Determined To Upstage Apple By Unveiling Galaxy Note 2 This August !

Well, we all know that Apple has been up to something during this summer going towards the fall. In fact, the whole world knows it and so does Samsung. Using one of their most popular devices, Galaxy Note, Samsung is going to introduce to the world an addition to its family by giving a younger brother to Galaxy Note. This new smartphone will have an uninspiring name of Galaxy Note 2 for convenience on the manufacturer’s part in marketing.

Scheduled to be launched on 29 August (according to a report by Reuters) in Berlin, the new Samsung phone is said to be featuring a 5.5 inch display screen which is unbreakable. This makes it even bigger (by a slight margin) than its big brother. It will also be coming with a much superior camera as well as running a faster CPU. For the camera, it is rumored to be at least 12 or 13 MP and for the CPU, it would be a quad core processor.

Although scheduled to be unveiled ahead of the IFA and at the end of August at a Samsung Mobile Unpacked event, this device is said to be only available to all the consumers in October. Interesting, isn’t it? Because that would mean that the South Korean manufacturer would be going for a head2head with the iPhone, if all the rising speculations of iPhone 5 coming out in October do come true.

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Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2 Running Windows 8 – The Answer To Microsoft Surface Tablet !

Lenovo have just given another reason to check out their latest product. There is no denying that with the latest gadget wars, the best way forward for a company is to send them out bigger, bolder and better. It is no surprise that even when the dust has not settled on Microsoft Windows 8, we have tablets already out. Well, if you don’t have the news yet, here it comes.

Lenovo, the computer maker, now has a 10.1 inch ThinkPad Tablet 2 running windows 8. Whoosh! That came fast. I mean, we all expect the retail version of Windows 8 to hit out stores in October, right? Anyway, here is what you need to know about the newest tablet on the block.

First, it is a tool for your business life and of course, what the tablet does best is complement your social life. So picture the following specs, which make it quite a darling. I think all other tablet manufactures are rushing to their research and development labs to become organized, especially the surface tablet.

The Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2 will have the best that Windows 8 has to offer, the touch functionality. Therefore, it is your laptop turned into a tablet. Think of your original ThinkPad. Make it lighter, more portable and very intuitive to use. The tablet comes at a slim size of just 0.39inches by 10.3 inches by 6.5 inches.

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The Head Turning Chip Of 2012 Arriving In Samsung’s Exynos 5 Dual !

The Samsung Exynos 5 Dual is the first ARM Cortex A-15 based chip. It clocks 2.0 GHz as a Dual-Core processor that will be suitable for tablet computers. The chip uses a 32nm HKMG process technology. There is also a 1.7 GHz option that is low on power consumption while retaining its power.

The low level of power consumption is most attractive to device manufacturers and users alike. It will allow the manufacturers to enable multitasking without worrying about the battery. The Exynos 5 Dual is a chip for the graphic-intensive application since it is much faster compared to the dual core processor of the Cortex A9-based.

The next device that runs on the Exynos 5 Dual will have an increase in power efficiency of 30% compared to the best ARM chip present. Users can expect a richer 3D gaming experience as well as a remarkable reading experience. The improvement in support for high-resolution displays is a game changer for mobile/portable devices.

Tablets and smartphones, as well as “phoblets” will benefit from the eDP interface. There is also a self-refresh technology that instructs application to stop sending images and other forms of data to its LCD display panel. This smart feature helps to reduce the power consumption when the device is displaying a still image.

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Samsung Galaxy Note 2 vs Galaxy S3: Smartphone vs Phablet

When the Samsung Galaxy S III made its debut as the manufacturer’s flagship smartphone just over two months ago in May 2012, it had few contenders that could go head to head with it. Frankly speaking, its specifications are still more impressive than any other smartphone out there and probably will only be surpassed when the iPhone 5 arrives on the scene.

Now Samsung is set to add yet another device to the mix in the shape of the successor to the Samsung Galaxy Note that is expected to go by the moniker ‘Galaxy Note 2‘.

The fact of the matter is that the Note 2 and S III do not compete with each other directly. On the one hand, the S III is a smartphone (albeit with a rather large screen) whereas the Note 2 is what has become known as a ‘phablet’. Also, although the Note 2 is due to be announced sometime soon, there are as yet no official details regarding its specifications.

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Optimus L3 Dual From LG Announced: Features And Specifications

Although Optimus L3 was unveiled much earlier in the year together with its brothers, L5 and L7, it wasn’t a dual SIM version at that time of unveiling. Just a few days ago, LG decides to announce its LG Optimus L3′s availability to India as a dual SIM smartphone, coined with the phrase extending to include “Dual” in its product name.

It isn’t hard to guess what is happening here. We know that the users in India have a special preference for dual SIM phones and that is exactly what LG has aimed to do to please the Indian users. Moreover, HTC also has just launched their dual SIM phone, HTC Desire VC, in India and that’s why LG decides to join in the fun with the L3 Dual. In case you didn’t know, dual SIM phones can allow users to switch networks on the same phone and this can actually contributes to better call cost savings as well as attaining better network coverage in certain areas.

If you are interested to get this phone, you should be happy to know that it isn’t expensive. Currently, the suggested retail price is about Rs. 8299 and the specifications are almost the same as the L3 version, with the main exception being that this LG Otimus L3 Dual can support dual SIM capacity (Duh!). I would say that it also has a very minor facelift, making it slightly to look like Optimus Chic actually.

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Sony Ericsson Xperia Active review

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Active is one of those odd phones that can survive underwater, help you lose weight and update your social networks, all in one go. But is it actually a decent mobile too?

Sony Ericsson's released a boat load of different Android smartphones this year. We've had two versions of its huge 4.2-inch Xperia Arc flagship, mid-range options such as the excellent Xperia Ray and Neo, plus the smaller Xperia Mini and Mini Pro for those on a tight pocket-space budget.

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Lenovo's Thinkpad X1 Carbon Ultrabook coming August 21 Core i5 and i7 versions available

Get ready for Lenovo's X1 Carbon Ultrabook to go on sale August 21 as the company announced Tuesday the laptop would be coming in two weeks' time.

Monday the Carbon's release was expected later this month, though no exact date was known then.

Starting at $1,399, the Carbon tops out at $1,849. Base models com equipped with a 1.7GHz Intel Core i5 processor and a 128GB SSD, while other iterations are an i5 at 1.8 GHz and i7 at 2.0GHz.

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Apple and Amazon stop over-the-phone password resets

Apple and Amazon have made it impossible to reset your password over the phone, for the time being at least.

This follows the hacking of Wired writer Mat Honan's iCloud account, which saw his iPhone, iPad, and MacBook Air remote wiped within minutes.

Hackers gained access to his account over the phone, exploiting a loophole in Apple's Applecare and Amazon's tech support. The hackers added a new credit card to Honan's Amazon account - all they needed was Honan's name, email address and billing address.

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Nokia Lumia 610 smartphone Reviews

NOKIA LUMIA 610

• RRP incl GST: $449
• Contact: nokia.co.nz

AT A GLANCE

• 3.7-inch, 480 x 800-pixel display
• 256MB RAM, will not run some popular WP7 apps and games
• 8GB onboard storage
• 800MHz CPU

We loved the Nokia Lumia 800, and praised its less fiscally demanding alternative, the Lumia 710, almost as highly. The Lumia 610 is an entry-level model in Nokia’s Windows Phone 7 range, available for $449 from Vodafone.

The first thing that struck me about the Lumia 610, before I’d even opened the box, was the phone’s resemblance to my beloved HTC 7 Trophy. They’re by no means identical – the 610 is clearly more rounded at the edges. Still, they both have an understated design, black with mild silver highlights, and have an air of professionalism that some of the ‘bubblier’ and more garish smartphones couldn’t hope to achieve.

The 3.7-inch, 480 x 800-pixel touchscreen is sharp, though a little dimmer than ideal under bright sunlight. It’s a 65K-colour panel, rather than the 16 million colours found on higher-end devices – I didn't really find the difference noticeable most of the time. With a keen eye, you might spot slight dithering in particularly colourful images.

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Windows 7 vs Windows 8: what's the difference?

We now know that Windows 8 will launch in October, in both its X86 and ARM Windows RT flavours. And we expect Windows Phone 8 and the Microsoft Surface tablet to launch at around the same time.

If you are looking to upgrade your smartphone or tablet, then, Windows 8 will offer a very different alternative to Android, iOS and the rest. But what about the majority of the world's one billion Windows users, who are running X86 Windows PCs and laptops? Here then, is a rough guide to what's new in Windows 8, and how it differs from Windows 7.

Windows 8 vs Windows 7: Metro interface and touch

The most immediate and fundamental difference between Windows 7 and Windows 8 is the main interface. Although the Desktop view is similar to traditional Windows, most of the time you'll be interacting with Windows 8's Metro interface - and boy will you notice the difference. The Metro interface is the default home screen for Windows 8, and features a series of colourful tiles, each offering access to a discrete application. Each offers live information, so you can see how many emails are in your inbox, for example, without having to open an application. You can customise your device's Metro interface, adding for instance access apps, web pages, images and even people - or at least their picture, contact details and your combined communication.

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Nokia Lumia 900 vs HTC One X

We pitch Nokia's big Windows Phone, the Lumia 900, against HTC's One X flagship.

Form

Nokia Lumia 900 - 127.8x68.5x11.5mm, 160g
HTC One X - 134.4x69.9x8.9mm, 130g

Nokia's Lumia 900 is a blown up version of the Lumia 800 Windows Phone, which in turn was based on the design of Nokia's N9 Symbian handset. It's quite a unique look with an extremely angular form factor and a sturdy unibody design made from high-quality polycarbonate.

Corners and edges are all very stark and sharp-looking and Nokia offers a range of colour choices including black, cyan, magenta and, from some retailers, white. The build quality on Nokia's premium Lumia models is superb.

HTC is on form with the One range and the company's flagship model, the One X is a seriously swish piece of smartphone hardware.

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Google Nexus 7 vs Microsoft Surface Windows 8 RT

Microsoft stormed the tech-world with the launch of two Windows 8-powered tablets, known as the Surface for Windows 8 RT and the Surface for Windows 8 Pro. In this context we’ll be focussing on the Surface RT – Microsoft’s consumer-facing tablet device. The device itself is a formidable force, bringing desktop-like computing to consumer tablets. It stands to really shake things up.

Google’s Nexus 7, on the other hand, features a quad-core Tegra 3 processor, 1GB of RAM, NFC connectivity, Android Jelly Bean, and a highly detailed 7-inch 1280×800 pixel IPS Display. It’s also likely to be around half the price of Microsoft’s Surface tablet as well, which will no doubt be very attractive to a lot of first time tablet-buyers.

Aesthetics

Form

Nexus 7:
Surface Windows 8 RT: 9.4mm thick, other dimensions TBA

Microsoft’s Surface for Windows RT tablet is stylistically very different from the iPad and indeed most other slates on the market. The body is 9.3mm thick, weighs 680g and is constructed from magnesium liquid metal, so it’s about as sturdy as mobile tech gets.

The Nexus 7 – also built by Asus – is not designed to complete with this kind of build quality. Its strengths, instead, lie in bringing high-end hardware and the latest build of Android to consumers at a cutthroat price-point. In this sense it has more in common with Amazon’s Kindle Fire than Microsoft’s Surface. But with a price tag of under £200 it’s sure to give both equal helpings of trouble.

Winner: The Surface

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