Archive for March, 2011
Apple iPad 2 review: Love and hate 2.0
Introduction
The Apple iPad 2 is about to hit European shelves, fresh form a diet and exercise regime that’s helped it shed weight and build muscle. Faster, thinner and lighter is an accurate account of what’s been going on in the year that divides the two editions of Apple’s tablet.
Apple iPad 2 official photos
Apple is taking it easy with the upgrades as usual – everything is carefully planned to ensure smooth traffic of new and repeat customers. It’s weirdly inconsistent with the hype about every new release. Anyway, faster-thinner-lighter is a fair deal to offer new users without making the original iPad adopters feel duped.
Apple iPad 2 official photos
It’s a sequel from the creators of a blockbuster. The iPad 2 is in no mood to start a revolution. But evolution should be good enough considering the original iPad is yet to be beaten.
Key features
- 9.7” capacitive IPS touchscreen display with a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels; oleophobic coating
- Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n connectivity
- Optional 3G connectivity (data only)
- Optional GPS with A-GPS support
- Apple A5 SoC – 1 GHz dual-core ARM Cortex A9 processor, PowerVR SGX543MP2 graphics
- 512MB RAM
- iOS 4.3
- 16/32/64GB of onboard storage
- Weight of 601 grams (607 grams for the 3G version)
- Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
- 10 hours battery life
- Accelerometer, compass and three-axis gyro-sensor
- Compatible with every iPhone app without any modifications
- The cheapest version costs less than an unlocked iPhone
- 0.7MP auto-focus camera, 720p video recording at 30fps
- VGA secondary camera capable of Facetime calls
- Impressively slim 8.8mm waistline
- Four and five-finger gestures (locked by default, but easy to enable with a Mac and a $5 app)
- 1080p TV-output with the Apple Digital AV Adapter (purchased separately for $39), 720p video streaming
- Magnetic Smart cover ($39 or $69)
Main disadvantages
- iTunes required for uploading content
- No Flash support in the web browser
- Poor still cameras – though, really, this thing isn’t meant for taking candids
- No standard USB port
- No kickstand – it cannot stand on a table without the help of a dock stand or a Smart cover
- Non replaceable battery
- No stereo loudspeakers
- No GPS receiver for the Wi-Fi only version
- No memory card slot
- 3G model uses micro-SIM, instead of a regular size SIM
- iPhone apps designed for HVGA resolution squander screen real estate or look pretty bad uspcaled
The list of disadvantages of any iOS device is the usual long read. Apple’s iOS has limitations that we all have to live with. Apple will never bring Flash support, allow regular file management or make iTunes (or at least the mandatory cable connection) optional. As to the actual iPad 2, if you want real GPS functionality you have no choice but to opt for the 3G-enabled model, which adds $120 to the regular bill.
But if you’re willing to forgive the shortcomings, the iPad 2 brings both a performance upgrade and a redesign. The tablet is powered by the new Apple A5 SoC, with a dual-core 1GHz ARM Cortex A9 processor, PoverVR SGX543MP2 graphics and 512MB RAM.
The Apple iPad 2 comes to address one of the main issues of the original iPad: weight. And while the handling is improved we’re less certain about the aesthetics. True, it’s an impressively thin tablet (slimmer than the iPhone 4) but uses the older generation iPhone design.
Apple iPad 2 live shots
Anyway, the speed boost is all there and we’ve enjoyed some impressive performance in our early tests. The Facetime video-calls and 720p videos are nice add-ons too. Unfortunately, higher screen resolution is too much of an upgrade to ask for in only the second release.
The iPad 2 has its ups and downs but, like it or not, it will sell in millions just like the original. But Apple is probably keeping a wary eye on the Android army readying a massive deployment in the coming months.
That’s still to come though. For the time being, the Apple iPad 2 gets our full attention. Follow us on the next page where we start exploring Apple’s new tablet.
Samsung Galaxy Mini S5570 Review: Right on the mini
Introduction
Minis are supposed to be the cheaper, stripped down version of the bigger and superior gadgets. There’s a long list of bigger and superior siblings for the Samsung Galaxy Mini S5570 to choose from but it has its own two feet to stand on.
Samsung Galaxy Mini S5570 official photos
So, the Galaxy Mini is the last shake of the bag. It will never get to rub shoulders with the big and scary smartphones. But it’s not all bad you know. Not bad at all actually for what basically is an entry level smartphone with complete connectivity, social networking, internet, Android apps and music. It’s the right kind of device for smartphone newbies. A good option if you just don’t want to spend a truck-load of money on a smartphone.
Key Features
- Quad-Band GSM and dual-band 3G support
- 7.2 Mbps HSDPA
- 3.14” 256K-color QVGA TFT touchscreen
- ARMv6 600MHz processor, 384MB RAM
- Android OS v2.2 (Froyo) with TouchWiz v3.0 UI
- 160MB internal storage, hot-swappable MicroSD slot, 2GB card included
- 3.15 MP fixed-focus camera with geotagging
- GPS receiver with A-GPS
- Stereo FM radio with RDS
- 3.5mm audio jack
- Document editor
- Accelerometer and proximity sensor
- Swype text input
- MicroUSB port (charging) and stereo Bluetooth 2.1
- Social network integration
- Good build, youthful styling
Main disadvantages
- Low screen resolution limits choice of apps
- Fixed focus camera
- No secondary video-call camera
- No flash, no dedicated camera key
- Poor video recording QVGA @ 15fps
The Galaxy Mini was not made to impress. It was made to serve and be simple to use. It’s a solid little smartphone that has all the important ingredients. It can do most of the things your Galaxy S can, just without the stuff that pushes the price up.
Samsung Galaxy Mini S5570 live shots
With this one, Samsung look to encourage their loyal users to consider a smartphone. Versatility and friendliness make Android quite inviting. The Mini has the specs to back that up too.
Budget-conscious users are having a range of competing phones to choose from and the Samsung Galaxy Mini will have to work harder to get noticed. But the right price tag will put it on the radar of the young, novice smartphone users. That gives the Mini something to start with.
Samsung S3850 Corby II preview: First look
Introduction
Feature phones have been busy adding more features to their arsenal in a bid to survive the onslaught of cheap smartphones. The Samsung S3850 Corby II is one such phone. Corby put a bargain price on touchscreen – the Corby II moves up a notch but stays within budget.
Samsung S3850 Corby II
Samsung S3850 Corby II official photos
Touchscreen, Wi-Fi, multitasking, app store – those things used to be associated with smartphones, but the Corby II has them all on its list of features.
The latest TouchWiz, fresh from recent stints with both Bada and Android, blurs the line with smartphones. In fact, the major difference between the Corby II and a low-end Bada phone is that you install Java apps on it, instead of Bada apps.
The J2ME platform has been around longer and many useful apps have been developed for it, while Bada OS is relatively new.
Anyway, the Samsung S3850 Corby II can’t run away from its name. The bigger screen and better specs aside, the Corby II is for beginners. So, no high-end features, thank you very much.
Samsung S3850 at a glance:
- General: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, GPRS/EDGE class 12
- Form factor: Touchscreen bar phone
- Dimensions: 109.9 x 66.6 x 11.7 mm, 102g
- Display: 3.2″ capacitive TFT touchscreen, QVGA resolution (240 x 320 pixels)
- Platform: Latest TouchWiz UI with multitasking
- Memory: 26MB user available storage, hot-swappable microSD card slot (up to 16GB)
- Camera: 2 megapixel fixed focus camera with smile detection, QVGA@15fps video recording
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi b/g/n; Bluetooth 3.0 (A2DP); standard microUSB port; 3.5mm audio jack
- Misc: FM radio with RDS; accelerometer sensor; Facebook and Twitter integration; DNSe sound enhancement; Find Music recognition service
Some might not be happy with the cutbacks – but the lack of 3G connectivity is offset by the Wi-Fi support, while the low camera resolution is not a showstopper. The social networking support is a key feature – some people just can’t do without Facebook and Twitter.
Samsung must be getting better at building cheap phones – the Corby II feels extraordinarily solid despite its all-plastic body. With DNSe and a good-sized microSD card you can skip the dedicated music player, the Corby II will handle your musical needs.
Samsung S3850 live shots
The color combo and the software package make the Samsung S3850 Corby II a youth oriented phone – suited to their means and interests. Read on if you think it’s right for you. See you after the jump.