iPhone 4S Review

The iPhone 4S is a series of seemingly minor upgrades, but those upgrades work together to create something new, something that is very much an improvement over the nearly two year old iPhone 4. A number of these improvements are available to older phones via iOS 5, the latest iteration of Apple’s mobile operating system. The stand out features are limited to the iPhone 4S, however, including Apple’s new “personal assistant”, Siri.

Hardware

I received a white model, and it looks great. When placed next to a white iPad 2, they look right at home together. The glass back that so many people have complained about (mostly because it cracks like…well, glass) is still there. Many people have expressed a dislike for it because it is so easy to break, but I think that it feels better than a cheap plastic back or an easily scratchable metal back. As someone who is extremely careful with their phone, I’ve never had a problem with the glass. In my opinion, whatever fragility is gained because of the glass back is worth it. The device feels so much better than the plastic-and leather-backed competition.

Body

From all outward appearances, there are no discernible differences between  the iPhone 4S and last year’s model. That’s because the iPhone 4S has the same body as the CMDA iPhone 4. If you’ve been using an AT&T iPhone 4, you probably won’t even notice the minor difference in button placement between the two models. I didn’t notice until after a few hours and it was only because I had the two devices sitting next to one another on a table.

This lack of outward change isn’t a bad thing, since the iPhone 4 was (and still is) the best feeling smartphone in the market. I’ve used a plethora of devices since the release of the iPhone 4, and none of them feel as solid or as well built as the iPhone 4/4S.

The Guts

Just because the outside of the iPhone 4S remains unchanged, that doesn’t mean the internal components stayed the same. In fact, quite the opposite is true. Inside of the iPhone 4S is the same A5 processor that powers the iPad 2. Many reviewers have remarked that the iPhone 4 was already fast enough that the upgraded processor in the iPhone 4S won’t make much of a difference. People said the same thing about the iPad and the iPad 2 when it was first released. But there is a noticeable boost to performance when using the iPad 2. The same can be said about the iPhone 4S. The performance boost is generally about the same as the difference between the iPad and iPad 2.

Not everybody was invited to the upgrade party though; there are some components that didn’t get an upgrade. The amount of RAM has stayed the same, but 512 MB is more than enough for most smartphones. Only extremely taxing apps like Infinity Blade other graphically intense games come close to using that much memory. Games like that lean a lot more on the graphics processor than they do on the system RAM, so it isn’t too much of a concern.

Camera

During the announcement of the iPhone 4S, Scott Forstall mentioned that the  camera in the iPhone 4S is probably the best camera that most people will own. He is probably right and this is one area where the iPhone 4S really outshines the iPhone 4.

The iPhone 4S camera has a more detailed eight megapixel sensor. For comparison, the iPhone 4 has a five megapixel sensor and the 3GS has a three megapixel sensor. Resolution isn’t everything, though. If the higher pixel count was the only thing they changed on the camera, the result would simply be more detailed poorly lit shots. To help with low light settings, the iPhone 4S camera has a much larger aperture than the previous generations. The larger aperture means that more light can reach the lens and pictures taken with less light look much better than they would with the iPhone 4 camera. The iPhone 4 took decent pictures if you were in a place with a good amount of light but not in darker settings, but didn’t take good pictures in low light situations. The iPhone 4S handles these low light situations much better than previous models.

The other big change is the lens speed. The iPhone 4S camera is ready to shoot in just over a second, compared to almost three seconds on the iPhone 4. Every iPhone owner has missed at least one or two perfect shots simply because they were waiting for the camera app to open up. While there is still a bit of a delay, it is mostly gone now.

Take a look at the pictures below. Each of these photos was taken with the iPhone 4S and they haven’t been touched up in any way.

Call/Data Quality and Battery Life

It does make phone calls, after all…The model I tested works with AT&T’s network and the call quality was average. There really wasn’t anything remarkable about it. There are none of the reception issues that plagued the iPhone 4 when it was first released. If you have a solid signal, the data speeds on AT&T are good. During my testing, I didn’t have a single dropped call, including the time I spent in downtown Atlanta (which is notorious for its bad reception).

Battery life is about the same as an iPhone 4, which means that you can easily get through a whole day without having to worry about your phone dying. I am a heavy iPhone user and I had no problems. If I’m waiting in line, I’ll pull it out and start browsing the web. My iPhone is my primary music device and I’ll use it to watch YouTube or Hulu videos on a regular basis. Even with that, I still made it through the day without any problems.

Overall Performance

In judging the performance of the iPhone 4S, I think that comparing it to the iPhone 4 is a bit misleading. When most people buy a new phone, they do so at a discount by signing a two year contract. Most cell phone carriers don’t allow people to get a new phone at a discount until their current contract is almost over. Most people eligible for upgrades are people with iPhone 3GS models.

If you’re upgrading from an iPhone 3GS, then the performance of the iPhone 4S is nothing short of impressive. The best application to demonstrate this is the built-in web browser, Safari. When compared to the iPhone 3GS– and even the iPhone 4– the speed at which a page loads is amazing. The iPhone 4S renders even the most complex pages almost instantly. When using WiFi, there is almost no delay. The iPhone 4S even feels faster than the iPad 2 when it comes to web browsing.

Siri

Siri is the new voice controlled assistant that is available only on the iPhone 4S. Previous iPhones have had limited voice control, but all it could do was dial numbers and play music from the iPod app. Siri has a much larger scope. It can look up information for you, create alarms and calendar appointments and remind you to do something when you arrive at a specific location. It also lets you dictate text into any program.

Once you learn how to use Siri, it’s incredibly useful. Actually, I should be a bit more specific– once you learn what Siri can do, it’s incredibly useful. Siri can understand what you mean, but it doesn’t always know what to do with the information. I think that as Apple adds more information providers for Siri, it will become more and more useful. Right now, it only works with Yelp and Wolfram Alpha, the upshot of which is that if either of these two providers don’t have information what you are looking for, you’re out of luck. If Siri doesn’t have any information or doesn’t understand your question, it will simply kick you out to a Google search, which usually contains the correct answer.

Learning Siri’s limits can be a bit of a pain, however. For example, if you ask Siri to look up movie theaters near your house it will pull up a list of movie theaters, sorted by proximity. If you ask it to look up show times for a specific movie, it will give you the same result: a list of nearby theaters, sorted by proximity.

It does give you some rather specific information though, if it knows it. I was watching an episode of an old TV show called “Car 54, Where Are You?” and I asked Siri when the show was on the air. I did so without even pausing the show and  surprisingly, it responded by telling me that it was on the air from September 17, 1961 until April 14, 1963.

Siri’s biggest advantage is that it can understand natural language. The “natural” part is key. You can speak to Siri just as if you were conversing with a friend. If you ask Siri “Where is the closest gas station?”, it will have no problem understanding you. With the VoiceOver system that Siri replaced, you had to speak clearly and slowly for it to understand you. You don’t even have to clearly enunciate. If you use the word “umm” a few times, Siri will simply ignore it.

It can also learn, to a certain degree. If I tell Siri to send a text message to my sister, it will ask who my sister is and then remember it from that point on. You can also say something a bit more complex, like “Send a text to my sister saying that I will be twenty minutes late.” and Siri will understand what you mean and send a text message to your sister. This is extremely useful if you are driving or in another situation where you can’t actually look at your phone’s screen.

The only major drawback to Siri is that you have to have an Internet connection in order for it to work. Since it works with Apple’s servers to process your input, it needs to communicate with them. This can be a problem, as several times over the weekend, Apple’s servers were overloaded and Siri kept saying it could not connect to them. Siri is completely useless without a network connection. That would be understandable if you could at least use the old VoiceOver system as a fallback, but you can’t.

iOS 5

Some of the most significant updates to the iPhone 4S come from iOS 5, the latest version of the iPhone’s operating system. Anyone who owns an iPhone 4 or 3GS will get most of the new features that come with iOS 5. The fifth revision of the iPhone’s operating system is a major upgrade, so even those people who are still using older models will still be happy. It might even be the most significant update since the addition of the App Store in iOS 2.

Notification System

The best new feature is the new notifications system. In previous versions of iOS, if you got a notification (be it a text message, calendar alert or a new voicemail), an alert would pop up and take over the screen. If you were in the middle of playing a game, it would interrupt the gameplay until you dismiss the popup. While it was a minor annoyance, it was made worse by the fact that after you dismissed a popup, it was gone forever. The same thing would happen if a new notification came in– it would replace the previous notification on screen, thus making it disappear forever.

The revamped notifications system in iOS 5 rectifies this problem, since there is now a centralized place to access all of your notifications. By swiping down from the top of the screen, you bring up a list of all of your past notifications. At the top of the screen are two widgets, one which shows you stock prices and another that shows you the weather for your current location. If you think these take up too much space and just want to see notifications, the weather and stocks widgets can easily be turned off.

By default notifications are ordered by app, but the order of these notifications can be changed via the Settings app. For example, you can set notifications from the messaging app to always show up at the top of the list. You can also disable apps that will clog up your notifications list (this is especially useful if you get a large number of emails).

In the new system, a small notification appears at the top of the screen when a new message appears. It’s hard to explain, but it “flips” the top of the screen over and reveals the notification. After a few seconds, it flips back. This new notification style does not interfere with the app you are using.

For those of you who liked the modal popup from previous versions of iOS, you can very easily go back to that on a per app basis or just change back to it wholesale.

Twitter Integration

Twitter has exploded in popularity over the past year, with even the most un-techno-savvy of people joining. With over 100 million users, it’s safe to say that a large percentage of iPhone users also have Twitter accounts.

Apple has recognized this, and there are pretty deep ties between iOS and the Twitter service. From almost any built-in app, you can easily post a piece of data to Twitter. For example, if you are browsing the web in Safari and want to share the page you are reading via Twitter, simply tap on a button in the toolbar and a nice little message box will pop up with the URL already entered and allow you to customize your post.

There were rumors that Facebook would be integrated into iOS 4, but that never materialized, likely because Facebook wanted to share the data it gained about users with advertisers, something that Apple was opposed to. While Facebook integration might have been nice, Twitter seems like a much better fit. And if you really want Facebook integration, you can set up Twitter so that it will automatically post your status updates to Twitter to your Facebook account.

The integration is nice, but it could be better. In typical Apple fashion, there is no way to customize which URL shortener or photo sharing service you use. As someone who doesn’t use the default Twitter photo service, I find this a bit annoying. It means that I either need to start using Twitter’s built-in photo sharing service on my other Twitter clients, or I’ll have my photos split between two different services.

I’ve been using the iOS 5 beta for almost 4 months and I’ve only used the Twitter integration a handful of times. That said, it is a really easy way to share things via Twitter.

iMessage

While a lot of talk about iOS 5 has been about Twitter, iMessage is probably going to be the most important new feature of iOS 5 (aside from Siri, but that’s more of an iPhone 4S feature).

For those readers who don’t know, iMessage is a new service from Apple that aims to replace text and instant messaging. It allows you to send messages, videos and pictures from one iOS device to another. It’s essentially a suped up version of text messaging that includes the ability to see when the other person has read your message and when they are typing a reply. Oh, and most importantly, it works with iPads and iPod Touches.

For those readers who don’t know, iMessage is a new service from Apple that aims to replace text and instant messaging. It allows you to send messages, videos and pictures from one iOS device to another. It’s essentially a suped up version of text messaging that includes the ability to see when the other person has read your message and when they are typing a reply. Oh, and most importantly, it works with iPads and iPod Touches.

If you’ve used a BlackBerry, you are undoubtedly familiar with BlackBerry Messenger; iMessage is Apple’s version of BBS. On the iPhone, iMessage is integrated right into the Messages app. That’s right– the same app that is used to send text messages. What’s more, if you enable iMessage Apple will automatically check the recipient of your message against a list of known iOS 5 users and send your message via their infrastructure instead of as a text message. All of this is transparent to the user and happens completely in the background.

The fact that you can send messages to your friends using iPod Touches and iPads is also a nice touch. In order to contact them, you simply message them via their email address– just like FaceTime calls to non-iPhone devices.

Wi-Fi Synchronization

It’s a feature that has been long overdue and something that people have wanted ever since the first iPhone was released. It’s finally here: wireless syncing. It’s as simple as it sounds: iOS 5 allows you to wirelessly sync your phone to your computer. This is especially nice if you are constantly adding music to your library or you listen to a large number of frequently updated podcasts.

If you have your iPhone plugged in and iTunes is open on your computer, it will sync and backup in the background. Syncing doesn’t render the phone unusable anymore. It simply occurs in the background, so you can use your phone normally as it syncs in the background. The biggest drawback to this is that it only works if your computer is on. That means that if you want to sync your iPhone overnight, you have to leave your computer on as well.

These features are nice, but again it’s something that Microsoft had on all of their Zune products, going back to the original model that was released in 2006. Still, it’s nice that wireless sync is finally here.

The bottom line: The iPhone 4S shows that Apple is able to stay competitive without engaging in the kind of specs race that Android handsets seem to be locked in. The Samsung Galaxy SII might have a dual-core 1.2 GHz processor while the iPhone 4S only has an 800 MHz processor, but that doesn’t matter. The software/hardware integration that Apple is so good at makes the iPhone 4S the most compelling smartphone on the market.

Pros:

• Fast as hell
• Great camera
• Best designed phone on the market
• Incredible screen

Cons:

• Glass back breaks easily
• Higher capacity models are expensive
• Carrier-locked GSM models can’t roam internationally; you have to use the AT&T SIM card.

You can get the iPhone 4S from Apple for $199 with a 2-year contract.

3:37 PM | 0 comments | Read More

Blackberry Torch 9850 Review

RIM just hasn’t been able to make an all-purpose touch-based handset. They tried with the Storm, the Storm II, and the Torch (and subsequent models), but each new offering has failed in halting the shift of users leaving Blackberry for an iPhone, Android, or even Windows Phone 7 devices. The company once exalted by everyday consumers and businesses alike is giving it another go with the Blackberry Torch 9850, one of the company’s first phones running the latest operating system BB 7.0. Does the aging OS have what it takes to take on the relatively recent newcomers, or is RIM only beating a dead horse?

As one of the oldest cellphone manufacturers, RIM has produced hundreds of phones and has become exceedingly efficient at it. The hardware they design is rarely below average, though it simultaneously lacks the artistry and finesse seen in some handsets. The 9850 has a sleek, curved design with no sharp edges and is made to be held in the hand for long periods of time. Just like Blackberry owners expect and desire.

The front face features a 3.7” display with a bezel that curves carefully off the sides, connected to a reflective bezel which in turn connects to the removable battery panel on the back. Four buttons on the right side are easy to feel, yet difficult to spot, and manage to stay out of the way when in a pocket or in the hand. There is no accidental button pressing here. On the left is the micro-USB connector, and on the top is the lock key shaped like part of the phone, not like just another button. Four face buttons and a touch-sensitive button rest below the screen.

One notable aspect, which is true of many Blackberry devices and, sadly, not many other smartphones, is the removable battery panel. It has a simple one-button mechanical lock, where when pressed the aluminum panel comes off and reveals the battery, micro-SD card and SIM card. The micro-SD can be taken out without removing the battery. And, reflectively, it’s nice to see such a clean design on the inside of the phone. Most phones I test are a maze of circuitry and off-color panels, whereas the 9850 is crisp, simple, and to the point. Above the panel is the 5MP camera and LED flash.

Brightness on the display is good; the screen is visible in direct sunlight, though in general color depth and contrast is lacking. The 840×400 screen is dense and pictures are accurate, but because of the color issues they don’t have the vibrancy found on some displays, notably Samsung’s OLED-ready phones. Besides for excellent brightness, the display is average.

Touch sensitivity has been more problematic, though it’s unclear whether this is a software or hardware issue. In my testing I gave up on using the screen to click on links or words, instead using the touch-sensitive mouse nub as Blackberry users so often do. Unfortunately the touchscreen just isn’t perfectly suited for the finger, and I’d mostly use it for scrolling up and down emails and web pages, but little else.

hat’s where the 9850’s greatest fault is: its keyboard. With no physical QWERTY, users must type away on the screen, and with poor touch accuracy, typing even tweets or text messages is a chore. In an awful twist of irony, I discovered Blackberry’s most attractive features (BBM, chat, email) and couldn’t make the best use of any of them. Typing on the keyboard is an exercise in futility; the faster you type, the more frequent and terrible the errors become. Blackberry’s aren’t made for slow thumbs, but with this virtual keyboard, answering emails, chat messages and texts will either force you to type with a turtle-like speed or spend equal time typing and correcting errors.

The hardware specs alone show a slightly different story from the handset itself: 1.2GHz dual core CPU; 768MB of RAM; 253ppi display; seven hours of talk time and six hours of video playback; 5MP camera with 720p video recording. These parts, however, don’t make the whole. Instead, they are limited mostly by a poor, repressed OS which RIM has refused to seriously change in a world that has already moved to touch-only smartphones.

In West LA Sprint’s network held up well, and making calls and sending and receiving data is fast. The 9850 connects quickly to the network and calls are clear. Driving around in both residential and commercial areas the 9850 maintained a solid connection, though in less populated areas and smaller roads the once dominant cell network now regularly drops calls and is as stable as the rest of the big four. Locally, however, Sprint’s network has deteriorated in Los Angeles county as a whole.

What I’m both surprised and dismayed about with the 9850 is that while it’s a 3G handset , what you can do with Sprint’s network is limited to the phone only. There is no hotspot connectivity, which for an enterprise-ready phone can be a death sentence for business users. The way Blackberry works, the BB Store only downloads via 3G and not through Wi-Fi, which considering the poorer status of Sprint’s network, as well as the overwhelming difference between Wi-Fi and 3G, makes me question the fundamental design of the phone.

Browsing the BB Store and installing applications isn’t nearly as easy as it should be. It’s a slow process. Too many applications require accepting their specific terms and conditions. There is no true multitasking. Switching from one app to the next is slow. Installing apps, and then installing updates for those apps, is painfully slow. Finally, plenty of cross-platform apps are very clearly worse on Blackberry.

Battery life on the 9850 is what I’ve come to expect from today’s smartphones, about a day with moderate use. In poor connection areas the battery drain is terrible, where some of the other handsets I currently have in testing can sit for days with low- or no-connectivity.

The camera is fairly good, though it tends to take grainy photos which are then post-processed to sharpen them. Viewing pictures taken with the 9850 directly on the phone looks great, but on a computer screen or blown up they are mediocre at best. The flash is powerful, and tends to wash colors out, but it’s the only way to take low-light shots. The plethora of shooting modes is good, though the automatic mode shoots the best and has in nearly every shot used the proper settings. Close shots automatically go to macro, night shots switch to the night mode, and even the neat text mode automatically detects properly. Sample shots below.

Video quality on the 9850 is very good. The microphone does a great job at picking up audio from the front and back, while also minimizing the sound of oncoming wind. At full 720p videos aren’t as clear as they could be, and the camera frequently has trouble focusing, while simultaneously switching between light and dark spots quickly. It’s overall a good camcorder, but there’s no tap to focus feature.

RIM, out of all the other smartphone manufacturers, has the biggest opportunity to make it right. They produce so many phones, have so many users worldwide, and have enterprise wrapped around its finger. That’s been changing thanks to iOS and Android gobbling up RIM’s market share, and phones like the Torch 9850 aren’t helping. The phone is a legacy device, not different or upgraded enough from its predecessors to put a dent in its main competitors. Add onto that an inaccurate touchscreen and you have a Blackberry, with everything a Blackberry is good for, sans keyboard. The 9850 is a device I really want to like, but RIM just makes it too hard.

Bottom line: It’s a Blackberry, with all the good except for a working keyboard. Interested buyers need to seriously consider if they want a Blackberry that’s no good at typing, that isn’t really business ready, and already feels outdated.

Pros:

• Solid build with a removable battery panel, which everyone should copy
• Blackberry’s revered email and instant services work marvelously

Cons:

• Touchscreen is inaccurate, makes typing a headache
• No hotspot or 3G-sharing supported
• App store needs a complete overhaul

10:05 PM | 0 comments | Read More

HTC Radar 4G Coming to T-Mobile Soon

 

Yesterday, T-Mobile announced plans to bring the HTC Radar to their network.  It’s a Windows Mobile affair powered by a 1Ghz Snapdragon processor and 4G connectivity.  In fact, it’s T-Mobile’s first 4G Windows Mobile phone running the latest version, code named Mango.

While Windows phones haven’t enjoyed the same fan fair as Android or the iPhone, this particular handset looks to be an appropriate suitor for anyone looking to satiate their Microsoft needs.  In addition to shipping with Microsoft Exchange and calendar as well as Microsoft Office Hub and Internet Explorer 9, it will include a 5-megapixel camera with an LED flash and a 3.8-inch touchscreen display, all housed in an aluminum body.

T-Mobile is mum on the release date and price, but we’re confident they’ll unleash that info in the coming weeks.

T-Mobile Announces Upcoming Availability of the HTC Radar 4G
Today, T-Mobile announced the upcoming availability of the HTC Radar™ 4G, our first Windows® Phone capable of 4G speeds on America’s Largest 4G Network®. The completely customizable smartphone pairs rich mobile entertainment features with the top-notch communications experience delivered by the latest version of Windows Phone, code-named Mango. This intuitive new operating system update will keep HTC Radar 4G customers connected and entertained just about wherever life takes them with its new and innovative communication features centered on people, along with preloaded entertainment applications and the ability to multitask between apps.

The HTC Radar 4G is elegantly crafted with an aluminum unibody design for a sleek and stylish appearance. Sporting a large 3.8-inch LCD touch screen display with a virtual QWERTY keyboard and powered by a 1GHz Snapdragon™ processor, the HTC Radar 4G delivers an efficient mobile communications experience at 4G speeds. The smartphone provides a comprehensive productivity experience with fully integrated Microsoft® Exchange and calendar as well as Microsoft Office Hub and Internet Explorer® 9 for a fast, beautiful Web experience. Additionally, the new smartphone is equipped with dedicated camera button for easy access to the 5-megapixel camera with LED flash so you never miss a photo opportunity, even if the phone is locked.

3:05 PM | 0 comments | Read More

HTC EVO 3D Smartphone for Sprint – $25 With Contract and Coupon

Wirefly has some special savings for you on this HTC EVO 3D Smartphone for Sprint!

Wirefly is having a site-wide sale thanks to Labor Day, but here’s a deal opportunity that really caught our eye! Now you can get this new HTC EVO 3D at the lowest price ever! This speedy new smartphone comes with the first ever 4.3-Inch HD 3D Display which is capable of not only capturing 3D But also viewing it without any glasses! It’s connected to the super fast 4G network as well, for amazing quality calls and data as fast as you can snap a finger. It’s powered by a new and powerful 1.2Ghz Dual-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and also runs on the newest Android 2.3 Operating System. Now for the fun part, it includes a 5MP Rear Camera, but you can also capture videos in full 1080p High Definition in 2D, but then again you can also capture 720p Videos in 3D quality! Now that’s an impressive feat we haven’t seen in a phone yet, don’t forget the price either.

Wirefly has a $25 coupon (LABORDAY2011) that knocks the price of this phone (it’s actually site wide) to $24.99 after signing a 2-year contract.  Get to the last page before you hit the official checkout (search for the word coupon if need be – should be at the bottom of the page "Do you have a Gift Certificate or Coupon Code?") and enter the coupon.  You’ll then receive the discount.

3:45 PM | 0 comments | Read More

Samsung DROID CHARGE for Verizon Wireless – Only $0.01

Amazon has a sweet deal available on this powerful Samsung DROID CHARGE for Verizon Wireless!

Looking to get the latest and greatest smartphone for a minimal price point? Then don’t miss this epic deal on the new Droid Charge from Samsung! This interesting phone provides you with an Android operating environment powered by a speedy 1Ghz Hummingbird processor and brought to you via a large 4.3-Inch HD display. The Charge allows you to connect to the Internet at super high speeds thanks to its connectivity to the 4G network and while this model has a 2GB internal memory limit it comes preloaded with a 32GB MicroSD giving you a whopping 34GBs of total space to start with. In addition you have connectivity with Bluetooth which is always handy and the ability to create a mobile 4G hotspot for up to 10 devices at one to share the love. This is all wrapped into a sleek and stylish package you can take with you anywhere.

Sign a 2-year contract and this phone ships to your front door for $0.01.  That include free shipping and handling

3:39 PM | 0 comments | Read More

Motorola DROID Bionic 4G for Verizon Wireless – $180 With Contract

Amazon Wireless has a special discount price on this brand new Motorola DROID Bionic 4G for Verizon Wireless!

Get ready to experience the latest in smartphone technology for a fraction of the price! This Motorola Droid Bionic features the best in tech available now along with a super fast 4G connection to keep you going much faster. This phone comes with the latest Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system onboard along with a blistering fast 1Ghz Dual-Core processor paired up with 1GB of PC-Grade RAM. It also comes with a large 4.3-Inch qHD screen featuring a huge 960 x 540 HD resolution and better yet it also comes with a rear-facing 8-Megapixel digital camera for taking large photos with ease. Throw in the ability to capture 1080p HD video, use 4G mobile hotspots, connect via Wireless b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1 and even an onboard GPS and you can see why this phone is a hit, but what makes this even better is the addition of 32GBs of storage space and the ability to power with PCs thanks to webtop accessories.

This just released Android Smartphone can be purchased at a discount if you’re wiling to sign a 2-year contract.  It’s $179.99, though you’ll need to choose a voice and data plan.  Alternatively, this phone retails for $700.

3:32 PM | 0 comments | Read More

Griffin’s HELO TC Helicopter is Controlled by iPhone

Got an old product that can be controlled via an old fashioned remote?  Want to breathe life into it?  How you ask?  Just develop a compatible iPhone app.  That’s what Griffin did…sort of.

The HELO TC Helicopter is your standard, cheapo remote controlled helicopter.  Don’t get us wrong, by cheap we mean expendable, and by expandable we mean you won’t lop off someone’s ear or lose a night’s sleep when it burns and crashes.  But we digress.  What separates this helicopter from the rest of the pact is that it can be controlled using an iPhone or iPod Touch.

Unlike the A.R. Drone, which is also controlled via an iPhone, the HELO TC Helicopter receives it’s commands via infrared.  So you’ll need to disable your iPhone’s wireless signal and attach the included “flight deck,” which connects to the handset’s headphone jack.

2:30 PM | 0 comments | Read More

Dexim AppSpeed iPhone Controlled RC Truck

Griffin’s HELO TC iPhone Remote controlled helicopter was almost the complete package, until we discovered that the flying toy communicated via infrared.  That means you need line of sight to the device if you want to maintain control.  Not really a practical solution for something that can hover above the Earth’s surface. That’s why we’re gonna differ you to Dexim’s AppSpeed Monster Truck.

Instead of utilizing infrared communication this RC vehicle depends on a small custom built RF transmitter that plugs into the iPhone’s 30-pin dock.  An accompanying (free) app allows you to administer controls using the touchscreen, or if you’re of the daring type you can try your hand at the gravity sensor mode.  To accelerate and break you just tilt the handset back and forth and to change direction to the left or the right.  It even includes 3 preset stations which allow you to “ZigZag, Spin or Dance your vehicle to music.”  And for those of you looking to race your friends, it would seem that you can set the frequency to which you transmit so you can race friends, but how many we don’t know.

The Dexim AppSpeed Monster Truck sells for $69.  There is also a car version

2:23 PM | 0 comments | Read More

Mysterious BlackBerry surfaces on forum, possibly 9900 prototype (update: a limited luxury edition?)

Whoever got a hold of this device over at MaxPDA seems to think it's the BlackBerry Bold 9980. We're more inclined to believe it's a prototype of the still reasonably fresh 9900, given that it sports the same battery as well as the same layout for ports, sensors and buttons. But who knows, it could also just be an elaborate KIRF. Whatever it is though, it sure is interesting looking (to put it politely). It's boxy, sports sharp lines, an out-of-character silver front and a black, textured back plate. Oddest of all though, is the word "proceeding" emblazoned in large letters across the top of the device. We've got one more pic after the break but, if that doesn't quench your thirst, there's tons more at the source link.

Update: We've just spoken to the Bejing-based source of this eccentric handset, and it turns out that he's already sold three of these prototypes for an undisclosed price. Furthermore, the seller claims that this "9980" will actually be making its way to the market in a limited quantity once it gets the diamond treatment -- hopefully something slightly more subtle than Stuart Hughes' offerings. 

2:16 PM | 0 comments | Read More

Sony Ericsson Xperia Play 4G Hits AT&T

Sony Ericsson’s Xperia PLAY 4G will be hitting AT&T stores, and online, on September 18th for $49.99 after a 2-year agreement.  It will ship with Android 2.3.3 and is powered by a 1Ghz Snapdragon chipset and Adreno 205 graphics processor.

This phone isn’t exactly new, as it’s been making its rounds on Verizon’s network.  However, AT&T’s version will ship with an exclusive ‘stealth blue’ hue and include a DK300 multimedia dock and MC100 music cable.  They’re also packing in 7 free games:

• Dungeon Defenders Second Wave by Trendy Entertainment
• Asphalt 6 Adrenaline by Gameloft
• Star Battalion by Gameloft
• Madden NFL 11 by Electronic Arts
• The Sims 3 by Electronic Arts
• Tower Bloxx: My City by Digital Chocolate
• Crash Bandicoot by SCEA/Naughty Dog/Universal

Course, you’ll also be able to access up to 150 games if the above ones don’t satiate your gaming needs.  All of which can be played on the phone’s 4-inch 480×854 screen and a slide out controller including directional keypad, dual analog touch joystick, two shoulder buttons and the four PlayStation symbol keys.

And let’s not forget the typical phone features, such as a 5-megapixel camera, WiFi and HSPA connectivity.

1:46 PM | 0 comments | Read More

Bram Stoker’s Dracula Charging Dock for iPhone

A book placed bedside is a fitting fixture that strangely enough adds a warmth and presence to any bedroom.  Why do books boast this quality?  A room with a book shelf stuffed full of novels versus an empty book shelf is more welcoming, just begging for you to come in.  Perhaps it’s the vast amount of knowledge contained beneath their covers, or that someone has taken the effort and time to convey their thoughts and perspectives to anyone willing to pick up the paper binded apparatus.

Whatever the reason, we’re drawn to the The Vampire Dracula Book Charging Dock for iPhone and iPod.  It’s an Etsy creation, which means that it is handmade and not mass manufactured.  So the chances of someone else having this charging dock in their room is slim to none.  But there is more to like about this dock than just its rarified nature.  It’s made from  a NEW leather bound copy of Bram Stoker’s classic Dracula.  The inside of the book has been hollowed out, which keeps the cord neatly tucked away, though you’ll need to use your own wall wart.

The Vampire Dracula Book Charging Dock for iPhone and iPod is currently available for $55.

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HTC Thunderbolt Review

One thing about HTC is that they build thick phones. This is a purely aesthetic deduction. Some people want a heavy handset while others always want smaller, thinner and lighter. Yet with the Thunderbolt, thickness doesn’t only come in its girth and weight. It’s heavy on features, like being the first 4G handset for Verizon, and all these things add on the pounds. Maybe that’s how you like it.

That’s not how I like a phone. As more and more handsets make their way into my palms, in all shapes and sizes, I’ve found that there are better and worse designs, that it isn’t all personal preference. With the Thunderbolt, that’s a 4.3” screen with 6.2 oz. to boot. Let’s just say it’s a big phone.

Running on Android 2.2, the Thunderbolt gives off an air of vanity and pride. Boot the handset to see the same thunderbolt in the commercials, along with roaring thunder booming from the stand-hidden speaker. Verizon isn’t kidding around with the Thunderbolt, and if HTC’s handset is any indication, this heavyweight is meant to show aggression. That it certainly does, with its large screen, 8MP still and 720p video capture and a 1.3MP front-facing camera, 8GB of built-in memory, 768MB of RAM and even an FM radio tuner. Add onto all of those top-of-the-line features 4G connectivity, on Verizon’s claim of the fastest nationwide 4G network, and guess who the 800 pound gorilla in the room is.

Daunting as the phone is, the design is simple to a fault. An elegant receiver sits atop the front of the Thunderbolt, and beside it is the tacky front-facing camera. The 4.3” screen attracts fingerprints all too well, and as I noted in my first impressions, it’s hard to see the screen in bright conditions even though it is an LCD display. The power/standby button falls prey to the same problem as HTC’s HD7 by being too mushy and too difficult to press. On the back is the camera and dual LED flash, and further down the pull-out stand that reveals the speakerphone. I don’t know what HTC was thinking with the charging port. It’s on the wrong side and blocks users from charging the phone while using the stand. If your battery runs low and you’re watching a movie or just letting the poor thing sit quietly, sorry, no juicing it up for the night. This horse only sleeps lying down.

This wouldn’t be a big deal if the battery lasted a long time, but as I’ve noted in past handsets, 4G devices are notorious for having poor battery life. This is for two reasons: first, if there is no 4G connection nearby, the radio will search for one. It’s like roaming. Second, if 4G is being used, it accosts the phone heavily. More data going through requires more power. Past phones like the Epic 4G and Evo 4G have managed because users either accept that faster phone speeds cost battery life, or know that they can’t get 4G connectivity and turn the feature off entirely. For my testing I left 4G on at all times, because of Verizon’s claim and because that’s what most users would realistically do.

And, as expected, battery life on the Thunderbolt zaps away all too quickly. On 4G, the device can stay idle for about a day. That is to say, under minimal use. Off of 4G that time increases, but if you’re traveling a lot or go between areas with poor coverage, battery life will barely hit a full day. Even with just checking email and the occasional web page, I charge the Thunderbolt nightly. Heavy features like GPS are certainly faster over 4G, and in the Los Angeles area finding places with 4G wasn’t difficult, but the cost in battery life almost isn’t worth it. Half of my days testing the Thunderbolt required a mid-day charge. That is to say, if you rely heavily on downloading lots of data and making a ton of phone calls, or if you travel constantly (or both), then the Thunderbolt practically requires a spare battery and charger.

Considering 4G is the big deal feature on the Thunderbolt, just how fast is 4G on Verizon?  Stunningly fast and slow, at least on this phone. Using Ookla’s Speedtest.net app, I took tests of download and upload rates around the greater Los Angeles Area, including downtown, Westlake, Pasadena, Santa Monica, and in between. All of these tests were done specifically with a 4G connection. The results are interesting, to say the least.

Upload rates varied from 700-34,000kbps. You read that right. This shouldn’t come as a huge surprise since upload rates really don’t matter and with bandwidth freely available on the new 4G network, having such high numbers doesn’t mean all that much. What it does mean is that if you want to upload HD video over 4G, they can upload just as fast as if you were on Wi-Fi. Download speeds are a bit more troubling, ranging from 0-19,000kbps. It’s troubling for two main reasons: first, these rates may seem high, but actually getting and maintaining a strong connection was next to impossible. Note that most of these tests were performed while standing in place, not while in the car driving. Out of ten speed tests, only two hit 10+mbps, and only one was over 1mbps. What this indicates is that even though download speeds can be very, very fast, the 4G network isn’t really in place as well as it can be. Connectivity is still an issue, which may be due to the phone or to the current network. The score of 19mbps took two tries at UCLA’s campus, where I expected a fast transfer rate. The first test only had 108kbps down. Upload rates, however, tended to stay over 20mbps, even with limited to no download speed.

As a comparison, I ran the same speedtest over my home network, and managed 17mbps down and 10mbps up. The fastest over 4G I’ve had was 19mbps down and 34mbps up. Running an identical test on my desktop – a wired connection – I had 31mbps down and 25.5mbps up. As a final note, all of these scores only indicate network speeds, not actual transfer rates on the phone. Even considering that, these are by far the fastest speeds of any 4G network I’ve yet to test. Update: up speeds, after further investigation, were inaccurate and displayed incorrectly. In various secondary tests (original tests could not be recreated exactly), I averaged 1.5-3.5mbps up speeds, which is much more consistent with actual data transfers. Once again, that is available network bandwidth, not actual user bandwidth.

The 8MP is mediocre, and I think gunning up to 8MP instead of 5MP or even 3MP was a mistake. Images are noisy at full-size, and Images are noisy at full-size, and shots tend to be very vibrant, which may or may not be a good thing depending on the types of stills you want. As expected the dual LED flash is blindingly bright and washes out colors tremendously. Video quality is fine, though considering how much has gone into the Thunderbolt and the 8MP lens, there really is no reason for 1080p to be left out. That said, if the video quality would have suffered, then it is better that full-HD was left out of the mix.

With lightning fast download and upload speeds, assuming a good and stable connection is available, the Thunderbolt is a very quick phone. Running the latest hardware and software available for Android devices and a ton of RAM, it’ll zip through anything you need it to do. The big dealbreaker is battery life, which suffers tremendously because the phone under heavy use cannot last a full day. If you enjoy the hefty, solid feel of a smartphone and can survive the onslaught of power-draining speed, HTC’s Thunderbolt is a solid handset that will serve its users well. Just make sure to put down extra for a car charger and spare battery.

1:07 PM | 0 comments | Read More