(El)Gato mirando la tele :)

 Elgato's EyeTV mobile

 What's up ladies and gents? Fancy a mobile tv on the go? If you own an iPhone 4S or an iPad you're in luck. Elgato will be releasing a new and redesigned iDongle for your iDevice. Just plug the thingie into your dock connector run the associated app and you're set - mobile TV at its best provided there are DVB-T and ISDB-T over-the-air broadcasts available in your area.

 Android users haven't been forgotten as the EyeTV micro will also be available, just plug it into your microUSB port and you're ready for fullscreen TV on your device given that the associated app is also installed.

 These devices will be available in September. If some of you get a hold of one, please leave a comment regarding your experience.

 Links: EyeTV mobile
            EyeTV micro
            Elgato wiki
           

The ChildPad

 Archos ChildPad

 Today is Children's Day in Romania and I'll start this post by wishing everyone out there a very Happy Children's Day! All ya adults - this goes for you too, remember you were children once.

 So, what's this about? Well today I'll tell you about a tablet that's designed specially for children but first let's start with the specs:

 - 1GHz ARM Cortex processor
 - 1GB of RAM
 - 4GB of onboard storage
 - microSD card slot
 - 7 inch touchscreen with 840x480 resolution
 - Android ICS

 Judging by these hardware specs most of the apps and child games would run just fine. The tablet will also feature "Alvin and the Chipmunks" exclusive content like: clips, pictures, themes and an online game. Parental controls are also present and there's the AppsLib app store instead of the Google Play store.

 All in one this seems to be a bargain given its US $129.99 price, considering that you can keep children away from messing with your iPad or Xoom. Have fun!

 Link: Archos

Progresso urbano

 Kyocera's Urbano Progresso

 What's up? This right here is a smartphone that's about to launch in Japan only. What's so special about it is the "smart sonic receiver" - a technology that allows the transmition of clear voice reception via the vibration of the display screen - all this based on Kyocera’s proprietary advanced ceramic technology.

 Here are the specs for y'all geeks out there :)
 -  Dual core Snapdragon S2 running @1.4GHz
 -  4GB internal memory with support for microSD card to up to 32GB
 -  4.0 inch OLED Display
 -  8.1 MP camera
 -  japanese specific features like infrared and FeliCa for mobile payments
 -  support for GSM, UMTS, GPRS and CDMA networks
 -  Android 4.0

 It seems that this one delivers - it has both "brians and looks", add innovation in the mix and here we are: a class A smartphone. Too bad this one's for Japan only... for now :)

 Link:  Urbano Progresso

Gingerbread on Atom

 Xolo X900

 And here we are ladies and gents, we’ll be witnessing yet another milestone in the mobile industry. Lava (an Indian mobile phones company) is preparing to launch the Xolo smartphone which, hardware wise, runs on an Atom platform. As the OS is concerned the weapon of choice would be Android Gingerbread at launch with an update to ICS following up shortly.

 I know y’all geeks are eager for some specs so here they are: 1.6 GHz Intel Atom Z2460 processor, 1 GB of ram, 16GB of internal memory, screen size of 4.3”@1024x600 pixels resolution, 8MP main camera with Flash, a front camera of 1.3MP, micro HDMI out. The handset is also NFC (near field comm.) ready. All those goodies are packed in a form factor that measures a mere 123x63x10.99 mm.

 At first glance the specs are on par with the last year’s high end devices but do keep in mind that this is an Atom processor on which a PC version of Windows might work just fine. 

 From now on we should get used to see the “intel inside” logo on smartphones as well. But how soon is now and how’s that Xolo for a change? See ya!  

 Links: Xolo X900
            Lava Mobile Phones

The (S)martphone

 Sony Xperia S

 Innovation is scarce and mere upgrades are paramount… The Xperia S is in between but has everything it takes to take on the top dogs.
 So, let’s see what the S has onboard: Snapdragon platform with a 1.5Ghz dual core processor, 1GB of ram, Adreno 220 GPU, 32GB of storage, 4.3 inch display of HD resolution @1280x720 pixels, 12MP camera with autofocus and Exmor R sensor for low light conditions along with 1080p video recording.

 Connectivity-wise there’s WiFi(b/g/n), Bluetooth, NFC(near field communication), DLNA, USB on the go, micro-USB and HDMI 2.0. All this in a slim form factor measuring only 10.6 mm in depth.

 The Xperia S is running on Android 2.3 with the ICS update coming up soon. Anyway the Sony’s Timescape user interface offers enough functionality and eye-candy for the average user :)  On the gaming side the “PlayStation Certified” feature allows for playing PlayStation Suite games.

 The device’s design mixes the classic form factor with a transparent strip which cuts through the base of the device in which the antenna is embedded - it also illuminates and indicates where the on-screen buttons are placed.

 Sony really nails it with this product, it really adds the “S” letter back into the “Smartphone” wor(l)d.

 Links: Sony Xperia S
            Where to buy

Excite 10

 Toshiba Excite AT200

 Thin supermodel physique or the thinnest and lightest tablet with a 10.1” LED backlit LCD capacitive touchscreen with 16M colors @1280 x 800 pixels - meet the AT200 tablet from Toshiba which is 7.7mm thin and weighs a mere 558g.

 Hardware wise this “excitement” is powered by a 1.2 Ghz dual core processor, 1GB of ram and a  PowerVR SGX540 Gpu. When it comes to storage it has 16 or 32 GB of internal memory with the possibility to upgraded it up to 32 GB more by using its microSD card slot.

 Wireless connectivity is assured by Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP and EDR(enhanced data rate) and GPS. It also features a micro USB port (data transfer and charging) and a micro hdmi out port.

 The main camera takes snapshots at 5MP with autofocus and is recording HD video @720p.

 Android 3.2 Honeycomb runs the show until the planned update to Android 4.0 ICS would be available later on to even better handle the AT200’s “excitement”.  The battery life extends up to 8hrs depending on usage. 

 The best contenders of AT200 are: Asus Transformer Prime, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and iPad(2012).

 If you haven’t made up your mind yet – choose what best suits you cause beauty is in the eye of the beholder :)

 Link: Toshiba Excite
           Where to buy

XT311 - Moto's Fire

 Motorola Fire XT311

 Let's take the word "phone" as an example, how many of you think of "smartphones" when you hear it? And the answer would be - many :)
 Nowadays smartphones come in all kind of "flavors": iOS, Android, Windows Phone 7, meeGo, Symbian and others. It wasn't long ago that "cheap" was similar to low quality products. The game has changed - this time in the buyer's interest. Now let's "light" this "Fire" up. Steady, ready and go :)

 Specs wise, under the hood there's the most typical hardware available: an ARM 11 clocked at 600 mhz, 256mb of RAM, WiFi b/g/n, and bluetooth 2.1. OS wise - Gingerbread (Android 2.3) runs the show and adds value to the "Fire". The reception is good - no dropped calls, messaging is a breeze thanks to the hardware qwerty keyboard (Blackberry styled) although the user can opt for the software one as well. The overall built quality is above average and the handset feels good in hand.

 The 3MP camera takes some good snapshots given the proper lighting conditions are provided - no autofocus or flash for this price tag though. The battery backup is not the best there is out there but it can get you through the day and the "People centric" widget by Moto along with the low ram (only 256mb) can lead to occasional lags in the user interface.

 To sum it up - the Fire delivers the "bang for the buck".

 Links: Motorola Fire XT311
            Where to buy

Be mighty big - Gingerbread flavored :)

 Samsung Galaxy S WiFi 5.0 "Go Big. Be Mighty."

 Tablets come in different sizes and hardware configurations but in the end it all comes down to the user's needs. I remember the Dell Streak's reviews - too small for a tablet and too big for a phone. It was the first 5 inch screen tablet/phone.
 Nowadays the Samsung Galaxy Note is a hit with its 5.3 inch screen but unlike the Dell's Streak the Note has both the hardware and the software to prove its worth among Android's top dogs.

 The Galaxy S WiFi 5.0 is for the Galaxy S line of smartphones what the iPod Touch is for iPhone, meaning you get the Galaxy S smartphone's performance at a lower price without the phone function i.e. with GSM and 3G modules stripped off. Still, the device has an earpiece and a microphone built in so calls through wifi are possible whether you use Yahoo, Skype or other voip(voice over ip) solution and the front facing camera makes video calling a viable option too.

 I was a bit skeptical about a 5 inch device but the hands-on experience was better than what I was expecting. Hardware wise the device has the same specs as the Galaxy S smartphone. Under the hood there's a 1Ghz Hummingbird processor that powers an Android 2.3 Gingerbread. 

 Hummingbirds and gingerbreads... funny :)

 The performance is fluid, there are no hiccups and the TouchWiz interface adds to the eye candy although I personally prefer the vanilla experience. Android Market makes up for 50% of this device cause of the huge apps and games selection. Videos look great on the 5 inch screen, audio output is great in case you use some quality headphones - the stock ones are not state of the art but get the job done. I haven't played the latest Android game titles on it but all I can say is Angry Birds runs great on it :)

 The internet experience is pleasant. All the flash videos and animations loaded flawlessly although I'm certain that there are some sites out there in the wild that would stress the hardware, keep in mind that this is not a dual-core platform. At 2500 mAh, the battery life is above average but it also depends on the user's usage style - light or heavy.

 Overall this is a great product, more like a niche product, it also features a GPS module and a 3MP camera with flash and autofocus making up for a good price/quality ratio.
 I recommend it to anyone who doesn't have an Android powered smartphone or to anyone in search of a small tablet or PDA.

Links: Galaxy S WiFi 5.0
           Where to buy

          

Kal El - Nvidia's "Superman" :)

 Tegra 3 (Kal-El)

 The new generation of Nvidia's mobile SoC is codenamed Kal El, guess that Superman has fans everywhere or they just might tease their competitors in the likes of Texas Instruments or Qualcomm.
 The race is on ladies and gents, place your bets and let's get started before it's too late 'cause I doubt that someone will find the "kryptonite" to stop Nvidia's "Superman" on his tracks...
 Here are some of the specs for all ya geeks (hot tech chicks included) out there:

 Processor: Quad Core ARM Cortex A9 MP Core, up to 1.5 GHz;

 Graphics: 12 Core Nvidia GPU with support for 3D stereo and Ultra Low Power GPU mode,
                  video output up to 2560x1600 pixels and 1080p H.264 High Profile video decode.

 The Kal EL's CPU and GPU are to be about five times faster than those on Tegra 2 wich is already faster than any other SoC. For all Superman's fans out there there's no word on X-ray vision capability yet :p

 Tegra 3 SoC (system on a chip) will be available later this year for Android based tablets and for smartphones starting from 2012. Microsoft's Windows 8 would run on SoC's just fine but I guess that each software program that the user would want to run would have to be recompiled.
 Who knows? Someday, maybe the mobile apps for iOS and Android will replace the desktop/notebook ones... or maybe I'm thinking too far ahead since there are still lots of people who use Windows XP and bulky desktop PC's on a daily basis.
 The mobile technology gets better by the day, and it's up to the users/consumers to set the trends. Based on the fact that many of the users want to play 3D games and watch HD video on the go, the mobile technology is constantly developing and improving.
 Meanwhile I'm lookin' forward for your comments. See ya!

 Links: NVIDIA Kal El reference tablet
           NVIDIA Tegra
           Mobile Technology

Tablet hardware - Netbook form factor

 Toshiba AC100

 To begin with, I started this blog writing about "smartbooks" and today I can give you a heads up regarding this category of devices.
 The AC100 is a niche product and in my opinion it has been launched ahead of its time. The "smartbook" defines a product that has the hardware of a smartphone inside a netbook form factor.

 Nowadays the smartphones tend to be an important part of our everyday lives and interesting crossovers have emerged (see the Motorola Atrix and its docking station).
 Nevertheless the Nvidia Tegra 250 SOC (system on a chip) has been designed for every mobile form factor that exists today. Today the users tend to own a notebook, a tablet ('cause of the hype) and a smartphone. Sooner or later you'll think about having a single device that can do it all. The AC100 isn't such a product by any means but it's a step forward. It has great hardware and the Android 2.2 does the job well although the Android Market is not officially supported. "Let's roll" - this time with the specs, not with the Autobots :)

- 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 250 SoC (built around a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore processor);

- 8GB, 16GB or 32 GB SSD;

- 512MB of DDR2 memory;

- 802.11n WiFi, optional 3G data, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;

- 1.3 megapixel webcam;

- HDMI out;

- headphones jack;

- microphone jack;

- 1x USB 2.0;

- SD card reader;

- 10.1 inch 1024 x 600 pixel display;

- integrated stereo speakers;

- "fanless" design - no noise during operation;

 The keyboard is comfortable to use whether you write e-mails, chat with friends or edit a doc. The chassis is quite slim an the weight of the device is "featherweight".
 I'm not aware of future software updates for AC100 but Toshiba released an update by the end of July that solved some battery draining issues. They might be able to update the AC100 with an Android 3 version aka Honeycomb given that the Asus Transformer runs it pretty well.
 So, what the future holds? Quad core tablets and netbooks for mobile fan(s)atics...

 Links: AC100
           Hacking the AC100

Galaxy Mini - for the minimalist

Samsung Galaxy Mini

 Hey, what's up? Guess this guy likes gadgets... the minimalist way, at least for today :)
 If you haven't lived in a cave for the last year or so, you might have heard about Samsung's line of Galaxy products. High end smartphones and tablets waiting to be snatched off the shelf. The mini has all the features of a complete smartphone but at the cost of a low-res screen and a mediocre camera. The build quality is quite good for a device with this kind of price tag. The best thing about it it's that it runs Android 2.2 Froyo so the users can enrich their experience by installing apps and games from the Android Market or from other sources :D
 If you are looking to buy cheap look no other way - the Mini is the answer but it won't help you save earthrealm from evil. If you're after all the bells and whistles go for its bigger bros like Galaxy S and S II. That's it for today folks, don't forget to post your opinions... as usual :))
 Have a good one!

 Link: Samsung Galaxy Mini

I Padfone? This time Honeycomb flavored :)

Asus Padfone

 Have you ever wondered, what should you use? A full featured smartphone, a tablet, a netbook? Well, Asus seems to have the answer - the Padfone. The concept it's simple and ingenious at the same time. Wanna relax and watch a movie? Or maybe edit some docs? The phone's screen is too small for that, just place it inside the tablet form dock and you're set to go. The Padfone is yet to be released, an interesting concept though. So, what's your game: smartphone, tablet or both?

 Link: Asus Padfone

Do you want to know what the Atrix is? :)

Motorola Atrix

 "Welcome, to the real world!" this is how Morpheus from The Matrix would great you. Today I'm gonna tell you about a device that's worthy of 21'st century. This is a powerful smartphone that can be easily transformed into a netbook with the help of a docking station that includes a 11.6 inch LCD display, a qwerty keyboard and usb ports among other things. The hardware powered by an nVidia Tegra 2 system on a chip can easily handle most of everyday tasks whether you are editing docs, browse the net or watch HD movies. This device might be a good choice for those who are annoyed by the multitude of devices to choose from when up to a task. Should I use the desktop pc, the notebook, the tablet, or the smartphone? Motorola seems to get back in the game with a device that has multiple uses for the consumer. It's not everyday that innovation strikes and gives us a glimpse of the future, it seems Moto has challenged another "Milestone". Be sure to post your opinions on this. See you around!

Link: Complete review





                                                 

Google TV - The future is now!

The Google TV

 Remember the days when TV's used to look like big square boxes with an antenna on top? Fast forward to today: HDTV's and thin LED displays. Have you ever felt like something's missing when acting like the average couch potato? Let me give ya one clue: it ain't Al Bundy. It's the Internet experience I'm talking about.
 Google, Intel, Sony and Logitech got together at a picnic and decided to set plans in motion for the next gen TV experience.
 You can now browse the net, access your facebook account - even play some Farm Ville all of it running on an Android platform inside your TV like the Sony NSX-46GT1, on Logitech Revue Companion Box or on a Sony NSZ-GT1 Blu-ray Player - all of them featuring Google TV. So, I'd like to know your opinions/comments on this technology.

Link: Google TV

Have a nice weekend!

Your multiple lifestyles, you decide!

The Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101

 The tablet wars gets hotter by the day. Many companies have deployed lots of foot soldiers on the battlefield but it's seems that Asus has the advantage of a sharpshooter, aiming right at their hearts - the price tag. The Eee Pad Transformer runs on Android 3.0 Honeycomb and it's based on nVidia Tegra 250 SOC (system on a chip) platform.

 Apart from being the most affordable Honeycomb tablet on the market, it can be hooked up to a keyboard dock thus transforming into a netbook form factor with full Qwerty keyboard and extended battery life up to 16 hours. Here are the full specs: Eee Pad Transformer

 This video: I can transform ya  - would make a fine product commercial, don't you think?

To play or not to play - while you're away :)

The Sony Ericsson XPERIA Play

 Hello everyone! Have you missed me? Strike 1, strike 2, strike 3 and… you’re out! I guess I’m out and about… to write about something… well, where was I? I can’t find my keys and I’m not talking about Alicia cause she’s hot anyways. That’s it! Stop playing already, those people have gathered here to read opinions about a cool gadget not about some random guy’s mumbling nonsense.

 Most of you heard about Playstation at least once or twice in their lives. The PSX or the PSone console was a huge success back in its days, then the PS2 followed. The PS3 set new standards for the gaming console by also acting like the living’s room Media Center. The PSP or the Playstation Portable was and still is a breed of its own – striving to get portable gaming to a new level.
What if you could use your PSP to place phone calls? But what if you have to answer an incoming call from your mom or gf while your game’s main character gets chased by a gang of green goblins wielding baseball bats? The game would pause automatically just like the Nokia N-gage used to.

 The Sony Ericsson XPERIA Play combines the PSP’s hardware controls with the skills of a full touch Android Smartphone. The OS is 2.3 Gingerbread meaning that the web browser supports Adobe Flash 10.2 and various enhancements that could replace your netbook/notebook on the go. The screen estate is 4” wide and at 854x480 pixels resolution playing games, surfing the net and editing documents (using the onscreen keyboard) is a sheer pleasure. The connectivity options cover pretty much everything from Bluetooth ver.2.1 with A2DP to Wi-Fi, 3G (video calling is a no-go) and GPS (if you ever miss the bus stop from playing games).

 Under the hood there’s a 1GHz Scorpion processor (Axy take care not to sting yourself :)), Adreno 205 GPU, Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon chipset and 512 mb of RAM. The internal user memory is up to 400 mb and a 8GB microSD card is included in the standard sales package. The onboard camera snaps 5MP stills and shoots WVGA video at 30 fps.

 To sum it up the Sony Ericsson XPERIA Play is an interesting gadget bringing Android OS and Playstation experience altogether in your pocket.

 As usual feel free to express your own opinions on this. Stay tuned for more, see ya!

 Link: Sony Ericsson XPERIA Play Review