Totally Hardware

One of the most anticipated Android smartphones of 2011 is the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, given the fact that its outward appearance is not only stunning, but also because it was the first smartphone to hit the market that featured the Ice Cream Sandwich by Android.

Formally known as Android 4.0, most people wanted the mobile phone simply to see how the new upgrade of the Android OS would operate as the actual specs of the Galaxy Nexus were not that stunning when placed on paper besides other.  However, toss in the new OS and a great 4.65” Super-AMOLED display and the balance is a bit better.

Of course, now that it is out, the real jury can actually start to weigh it up as people have now had about a month to use it. First off, in order to sport this much larger display the mobile has grown heavier which some users are responding to and others or not.  It does feel sturdier than the Samsung Galaxy S2, but once again it is up to the individual to decide if they like this or not and those who carry in their pockets may fall on the other side of the debate.

Taking a look at the top of the mobile phone you can see where the five megapixel camera eye is built into the mobile, which is a funny choice given the fact that Samsung usually installs much better cameras for its phones. It is nice that they left the logo out of the design of the phone because after paying a few hundred pounds for a mobile phone and locking yourself into an expensive contract it’s nice to know that you can carry your phone without offering free advertising of the product for the company.

The actual casing of the phone is made out of a thin plastic which is a bit flimsy looking but seems to hold up fine and nicely compliments the curved glass design of the front that was first seen on the Nexus S.  There is not one physical button on the mobile which is different than the previous Android phones which all had their set of basic commands (Menu, Back, Home, and Search).  Likely this was taken out to allow for the larger display and a trend that it would be nice to see continue on Android mobiles.

The top of the mobile does not have any ports or buttons which is nice since it’s always awkward to plug in something from the top, but along the bottom you will find a 3.5mm audio hack and a USB port allowing for full use of the phones capabilities.

Finally, if the Galaxy Nexus has one standout feature outside of the Ice Cream Sandwich it is the Super-AMOLED display which offers top of the line colour saturation and contrast, allowing images to come across the way they should.  The attention to detail is excellent due to the fact that every pixel on the phone emits its own light.

This time last year there were not that many tablet computers on the market, especially if you were looking for one with a bigger screen. Today, you would struggle to believe that only a year has passed with the number of tablet PCs available in stores.

Motorola recently announced the release of the XOOM 2 which it is hoping will be a device that is going to challenge the Apple iPad, and hopefully take its lead in the market. The device is aesthetically pleasing and has rubbery sides which make it easy to grip onto, which already give it an edge over the iPad 2 before you even switch it on.

The corners are angled and this means you can easily tell it apart from the original model that Motorola previously released. The long sides of the device are straight at the top and bottom have a slight curve which are reminiscent of the smart phones that Motorola released previously .

Unusually, the power button of the devices is located on the back which means that you can sometimes accidentally press it when you are holding the device with your fingers, it is also similarly easy to accidentally change the volume when you are holding the device.

There is also a long lag after you have pressed the power button and before the screen will switch on and this means you can be pressing the button continuously before you realise you’ve got a response. This device could learn a lot from Apple when you consider the placement of the volume and power buttons and how quickly they respond to touch.

This new device is lighter than its predecessor by a significant 130 grams. It is also lighter than the iPad 2 but is around the same thickness. As for an operating system, it uses Android version 3.2 but Motorola has added its own touch to the operating system. The device is also advertised as being splashproof as it did well in testing against this.

The streaming service that comes with the device has been greatly improved and it is possible to stream video, photos and music by using the MotoCast. You can even easily connect the device to your computer so that you can share files between the two. Intelligently, the software required for the computer is included in the tablet device so you can plug it into your laptop in order to install the sharing program.

The screen is 10.1 inches and is excellent for viewing media, especially media that is being streamed from MotoCast. Pictures don’t need to buffer most of the time and video only requires a short amount of time to start working. File sharing security is also excellent because your files are not uploaded to another server, they are directly accessed from your PC on your tablet.

The disadvantage of this is that your computer has to be on in order for you to access the documents. This system also has the advantage that you will not just be able to access the files from the tablet but at any computer that has an internet connection.

The processor in this new device is fast and it runs the new operating system very well. The only disadvantage that could be seen with the device is the placement of the power button but other than that it is a good contender to the iPad.

When you first glance at the Galaxy Tab 10.1 from Samsung it is easy to see why Apple called in their legal eagles. They look like twins that were separated at birth and if it wasn’t for the fact that it has Samsung on it, you would put money on the Galaxy Tab 10.1 actually being an iPad.

The German courts agreed with Apple and have banned the sale of it for infringement of patent. Similar skirmishes in the courts of Australia, South Korea and Japan are currently in progress and the outlook seems bleak after the German ruling,

It’s such a shame that it has come to this as it could so easily have been avoided. The current design team at Samsung seems to consist of one guy with a photocopier, which is a sharp contrast to the days when the Korean company where praised for the chic and elegant hardware they produced.

The ironic part of all this is that the Tab 10.1 is the best tablet by far that Samsung have so far produced, it has beautiful proportions and is also fast and very light. Do not confuse this however with the Tab 10.1V, which looks like the iPad’s incestuous cousin, but the one who ate all the pies.

This new and much improved Galaxy Tab 10.1 is slimmed down to the point that it is actually lighter than an iPad, but a tad wider. Herein lies the dilemma for the tablet buyer. If you can buy the iPad’s doppelganger for the same price that lacks the vast array of software available for your iPad, why would you bother not buying the real thing?

Apple currently command over 75% of the tablet market, and sell more iPad’s than all the other tablets put together, and unless Android suddenly makes a massive technological breakthrough that nobody saw coming, their dominance will continue. Sure, Android give you the old faithfuls on the tablets; Twitter, Facebook, Angry Birds etc, but the list isn’t very long compared the tens of thousands you can get from the Apple app store.

The Lumia 800 is the new mobile phone that has been launched by Nokia and it is the first Nokia handset to be using the operating system by Microsoft, Windows Phone 7. Initial sales of the phone have suggested that it is going to be the first blockbuster smart phone for Microsoft as they are able to cash in on the devotion of Nokia fans.

Many loyal fans of Nokia’s have found that the operating system they previously ran on is not up to scratch and that is let down what otherwise excellent phones. Utilisation of Microsoft’s operating system is expected to greatly improve the overall phone experience and increase the number of people buying Nokia. Despite these advantages, it is facing some serious competition from the Samsung Galaxy S2 as well as the Apple iPhone 4S.

When you first look at the device, you will instantly notice that it is not as attractive as the Apple and Samsung counterparts. Compared to these beautiful devices it looks positively dull, nothing more than a plasticky black rectangle. The iPhone is a very nice looking device and it really feels as expensive as it is, and this is simply not true of the latest Nokia offering. Despite its aesthetic failings it is a much more sturdy device than the competitors and holding it you will really feel how it will be more resistant than an iPhone or a Samsung Galaxy.

The operating system on the iPhone is incredibly intuitive and even if you are picking the phone up for the first time it is likely will very quickly be able to work out how to use it. Android is a system that is very nice looking, in a similar way to the iPhone, but it is not so easy to get used to. Many people have compared the android operating system to a desktop computer system.

The Windows system is also different and it has not been is tried and tested as it’s more established counterparts. First impressions have generally been positive though and something called ‘live tiles’ is particular popular.

The screen on the devices the same size as that on an iPhone, and this is slightly smaller than the Samsung’s. When comparing the iPhone to the Samsung Galaxy, most people would agree that the iPhone has a better screen. The whites are better and text appears more crisp which makes reading on it very easy. The screen that is seen on the new Nokia offering is as good as the iPhone’s and this is certainly good enough.

When you compare the speed of the device it is about the same as the Samsung but a little bit behind the Apple. Considering that it only has one core compared to the other devices dual cores this is rather impressive and is a testament to the quality of the operating system that Microsoft have supplied. Also, having the single core means that the battery is exhausted far less quickly than its dual core competitors.

Nokia has officially launched its new Windows Phone range with the Nokia Lumia 800;  Stephen Elop, Nokia’s CEO, called it “the first real Windows Phone”. The device, previously known as Sea Ray, is similar to the N9 but with some new features.

The 800 runs Windows Phone 7.5 Mango, and it has the unique Nokia Drive, which is a navigation system whereby users can download maps and save money on roaming charges.  It also offers a 3D view of the designated area, and voice control navigation.  In addition there’s an ESPN hub for sports fans, and a music platform that includes Mix Radio, allowing free preset music mixes with no subscription needed.

Nokia has set the price for the Lumia 800 at £365, but they are coming out with a more affordable version right on its heels.  The Lumia 710 will have very similar specs but the pricing is aimed at the mid-range market.  The 710 will reportedly list for £235 and appeal to new customers looking to upgrade to medium-priced smartphones.

Nokia stock had dropped in value by two thirds after the launch of Apple’s iPhone in 2007, and dropped  dramatically again following CEO Elop’s announcement of a partnership with Microsoft and a change in software platforms.  However, Elop is very optimistic about the future of his company; he said Nokia is a different company since his 13-month tenure began, and the Lumia 710 and 800 are just the beginning.

Competition in the smartphone market is intense, with Apple, Motorola and Google all way ahead in terms of market shares.  However again, buyers and analysts who have scrutinized the new Nokia offerings are cautiously encouraging.  The feeling is that aiming at a presumably wider consumer base by offering good quality at less-than-peak prices will give Nokia the boost it needs to get back in the running.