Samsung Galaxy S II (S2) vs BlackBerry Bold 9900

The smartphone of the moment is without doubt the Samsung Galaxy S II or S2, and we’ve posted many articles on this impressive Android handset. Recent posts included a review roundup where the experts were similarly impressed, and a look at the Galaxy S II vs. the LG Optimus Black. Now though we wanted to look at another comparison, this time the Samsung Galaxy S II (S2) vs. the BlackBerry Bold 9900 to see if there’s a sure winner.

The BlackBerry Bold 9900 (aka the Bold Touch) is for the T-Mobile HSPA+ 4G network and will also be available with a GSM/CDMA variant, the 9930. We have already given you details of a summer release for this handset and some news of reviews. As a very brief specs recap the Bold 9900 will have a 1.2GHz Snapdragon single-core processor, 2.8-inch VGA display, five-megapixel rear camera with 720p HD video capture, 768MB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage (expandable to 32GB with Micro SD card). The operating system will be BlackBerry OS 7 and it also features a QWERTY keyboard.

For the Galaxy S II a specs recap includes a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, the latest Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS, 8-megapixel rear camera, 2-megapixel rear camera, 16/32GB storage and 1GB of RAM. At first glance on specs we’d have to say that the Galaxy S II is ahead although the BlackBerry Bold 9900 is no doubt a decent enough powerful BlackBerry handset.

Over on Know Your Mobile, Paul Briden has conducted an in-depth comparison of these two phones split into categories with a win, lose or draw given for each section and we thought it would be interesting to see what he has to say and give you a rundown. On form factor there’s really no contest and the Galaxy S II easily wins this one. For the display the Galaxy S II takes it again. It’s Super AMOLED display came in for wide praise in reviews and it seems, rightly so.

We’ve already mentioned the storage and the Galaxy S II is once more way out in front with that optional 16 or 32GB of internal storage and 1GB of RAM. As far as operating systems go the two handsets come out with a draw. The Galaxy S II has the latest Android Gingerbread OS but the Bold Touch 9900 has the latest BlackBerry OS 7. For processor, once again it has to be the Galaxy S II with its 1.2GHz dual-core as opposed to the 1GHz single core of the Bold 9900. Best camera winner is also the Galaxy S II, pretty obvious given the earlier specs we gave you.

In conclusion then the Galaxy S II takes the victory fairly easily and pretty much sweeps the board. That’s not to say the Bold 9900 is not a good handset, it’s a fairly solid respectable smartphone. That said, it’s not really in the same league as the Galaxy S II, which is set to take the world by storm with sales targets of 10 million. What are your thoughts on these two handsets? Would anything persuade you to choose the BlackBerry Bold 9900 over the Samsung Galaxy S II? Send us your comments to let us know.

Rumor: iOS 5 will not be available for iPhone 3GS

Such is the way of technology. Just two years after its release, the iPhone 3GS may be deemed "too old" for Apple's next iteration of its mobile operating system, iOS 5.

Mobile phone blogger Eldar Murtazin, from the Russian site Mobile-Review, stated frankly in a tweet recently (via MacStories): "Just one comment. Apple iPhone 3GS wont be upgradable to iOS 5.x. iPhone 4 will."

The comment did not come with a follow-up on sources of the information and could very well just be an educated guess on Murtazin's part. Whether fact or fiction, the true issue is on the table: will your iPhone 3GS remain relevant once iOS 5 comes to market?

My guess is no. You can see the performance difference in normal usage between a 3GS and an iPhone 4 already. Once you fire up a graphically intense application or game, the difference is stark.

It is likely that iOS 5 will include many advanced features that require heavy lifting from the graphics department, and the iPhone 3GS simply won't cut it. Rather than going through a performance-based customer service debacle like Apple did when it released iOS 3 for the original iPhone or iOS 4 for the iPhone 3G, I think Apple will just leave the 3GS off the list of compatible iPhones for iOS 5.

What do you think? Should Apple keep the iPhone 3GS relevant with iOS 5, or move on and leave it in the dust? Let me know in the comments!

iPhone 4 vs Samsung Galaxy S2

To many, the iPhone 4 represents the pinnacle of gadgetry. Ask any iPhone owner and they'll happily slide the Jobsian Jesus-phone out their pockets and start showing you apps, before getting distracted and wondering off, pawing at the screen and muttering to themselves. The iPhone sailed through our Greatest Gadget of the 21st Century tournament last year, crushing tech heavyweights like the Xbox 360 and Robosapien 'neath its aluminium-edged boots.

But then there's Android. Growing slicker with every iteration, Google's fantastic mobile operating system has found traction with just about every tech manufacturer, smashing down Apple's walled garden and pouring white spirit on the petunias. The Samsung Galaxy S 2 might just be the greatest Android device yet -- a smart phone of staggering power and beauty, could it be the mobile that finally, finally unseats the iPhone 4?

We've stuck the iPhone 4 and the Samsung Galaxy S 2 side by side in the photo gallery above -- click through to see our two competitors side by side, and make up your own mind about which mobile looks better.
Design

We were immensely impressed with the Galaxy S 2's design. We've postulated that Samsung must have access to some kind of anti-gravity testing lab, because somehow it's crammed a vast amount of high-end tech into a smart phone that weighs only 115g. Very impressive, but even more mind-boggling is that the Galaxy S 2 is just 8.49mm thick -- about a millimetre thinner than the incredibly slender iPhone 4.

Some people will hold the S 2 and say it feels plasticky. That's because it's plastic. But while we normally enjoy a reassuring metal frame, we can forgive the use of plastic in this instance because the build quality of the S 2 is very high. We didn't notice its slim chassis creaking at all, even when we applied some fairly serious pressure. Great stuff.

The iPhone 4 is heavier at 137g, and is 9.3mm thick. It's no porker though: this is one sultry slice of smart phone. A glass back gives the iPhone 4 a pleasant, weighty feel, and the strip of metal around the edges gives it a cool, classy feeling in your palm.

Metal volume and lock keys keep things feeling sturdy, and if that circular home button hasn't reached icon status by now, we don't know what qualifies. The S 2 oozes quality, but for pure tech luxury, the iPhone 4 can't be beat.

Or so it would seem. Anyone rooting (no pun intended) for the Galaxy S 2 will have been reading the last few paragraphs fidgeting in their seats, because there is -- of course -- something about the iPhone 4 we haven't mentioned yet.

Antennagate. A design crisis so severe it made Steve Jobs say sorry, this was the revelation that holding the iPhone 4 in the 'wrong' way could ruin your reception faster than a drunk uncle at your wedding. By having the iPhone 4's antenna built into the outside of the phone it meant fleshy human digits fatally attenuate the signal, causing dropped calls and many a frown among the iPhone community.

That such a massive flaw had been allowed to slip through Apple's testing was humiliating for the Cupertino company, and even though we prefer the look of the iPhone 4 to the Galaxy S 2, we can't in good conscience call the iPhone 4 well designed.

Design winner: Samsung Galaxy S 2.

Display

The Galaxy S 2 has a much bigger display than Apple's phone, measuring a stonking 4.3 inches on the diagonal. It's amazingly bright too, searing a vision of heaven into our retinas within the first few seconds of turning the phone on. The Super AMOLED Plus display looks fantastic (despite having a stupid name), and the sheer size of the 480x800-pixel screen means photos, websites and videos all look fabulous. It's a glorious display all round.

The iPhone 4's display measures only 3.5-inches, but as Doctor Niko 'Nick' Tatopoulos -- the man who floored Godzilla in 1998 -- would tell you, size isn't everything. It might not be as big, but the iPhone 4's display still makes us weep tears of joy, almost a full year after we first clapped eyes on it. With 640x960 pixels at 326 pixels per inch, the retina display is so pin-sharp you have to really, really squint to make out individual pixels.

It's a masterpiece in display tech, and we've lost count of the times we've found ourselves peering distractedly at particularly intricate icons, or zooming in as far as possible in Web pages. Incredibly comfortable to read text on, no other manufacturer has managed to produce a screen of this quality.

Display winner: iPhone 4.

Hardware

The iPhone 4 is a great collection of hardware. Its A4 chip keeps the whole system ticking along nicely, and it's able to keep different apps running with little noticeable slowdown. Intense 3D games are no bother.

The camera is impressive too. Five megapixels of portable photography pleasure, with 720p recording, the iPhone's camera might be low on features but we've been very pleased with the quality of images it's able to produce.

The Galaxy S 2's camera, despite packing a hefty 8-megapixel sensor, isn't quite as deft when it comes to grabbing gorgeous shots. But it does bring 1080p video recording to the table, besting the iPhone 4 in the camcorder stakes.

The S 2 may also be the fastest Android phone we've ever held -- it certainly feels it -- thanks to a 1.2GHz processor. That muscular chip makes all the difference, and we've never experienced Android running quite so smoothly. There's no lag or stutter in the menu or homescreen transitions, and we struggled to slow the S 2 down -- even with loads of apps open, more apps downloading in the background and Flash video playing in the browser it kept on trucking, with no signs of struggling. We can't argue with that.

Hardware winner: Samsung Galaxy S 2.

Battery life

What use is a smart phone if it doesn't last 5 minutes? Battery tech hasn't quite managed to keep pace with advances in mobile processing and digital displays, and as a result it's rare for any modern mobile to handle a day's intensive use without having to suckle on its power charger like a dehydrated hamster.

A straight battery drain test in this situation would be a little pointless, because frankly you'll end up using your phone for different things depending on whether you own an Android or iOS device. On the one hand, running loads of apps simultaneously, Wi-Fi tethering, playing Flash video and numerous other things Android phones can handle will drain the S 2 in next to no time, while graphically intensive gaming or downloading songs from iTunes on the iPhone 4 will equally exhaust your power reserves.

We're left with no choice to call this round a draw. Frankly they're both as bad as each other.

Battery winner: Nobody.

Software

iOS and Android. Android and iOS. We could try to argue which is better, but our time would probably be more productively spent teaching our goldfish to tapdance. The fact is both operating systems have their strengths and weaknesses, and you have to figure out which is best for you based on what you want your mobile to do.

If you want freedom, regular upgrades and the ability to fiddle with your mobile's homescreen and install whatever crazy apps you choose, Android is best. That's why it's often described as geeky -- an almost infinite amount of tinkering is possible, and there's the opportunity to really make a device your own.

iOS is best if you want an uncomplicated, structured experience. You won't find labyrinthine menus or configuration options here, and the apps you can install have all passed under the watchful eye of Apple. Downloading music and movies is incredibly simple -- if sometimes expensive -- and the whole operating system moves with a slickness that makes sliding through menus a genuine pleasure.

But freedom is limited, and a continued lack of Flash support in the browser is a frequent roadblock for online adventurers. Perhaps you object ideologically to the walled-garden approach to tech, or Apple demanding huge cuts for in-app purchases. We'd understand if you did.

There's one aspect, however, in which iOS unequivocally still beats Android, and that's apps. Don't get us wrong, we've played with plenty of brilliant Android apps, but the Apple App Store wins every time.

Finding apps is simple thanks to a brilliant mobile version of iTunes that's much easier to use than the full desktop version, while purchasing and downloading is simple and reliable. Anyone who enjoys mobile gaming will have their heads turned by the App Store's bounty of brilliant mobile games, and the sheer number of excellent productivity tools means you'll never run out of new apps to try.

We're not sure why the Android Market hasn't managed to match the iPhone's app offering. Perhaps it's simply that developers gravitate toward iOS, with more money to be made from an audience used to paying. Or maybe Apple's strict approval process means the overall quality of apps on offer is more encouraging. Perhaps there are just as many great Android apps out there, but the mechanisms for finding and categorising them aren't as refined.

Whatever the reason, searching, purchasing, downloading and using apps on the iOS platform is simply more entertaining. For the app offering alone, we're giving this one to the iPhone 4.

Software winner: iPhone 4.

Conclusion

It may sound like a cop-out -- it is a cop-out -- but we simply can't choose a victor here. We feel the same about these two phones as we did when we reviewed the iPad and the Samsung Galaxy Tab. They're both fantastic bits of kit, but in different ways, and which one is 'better' will be subjectively based on what you want from a mobile device. It might come down to something as simple as which shape you prefer, or which network has the best deal.

When hardware is this refined, and software this polished, we'd ask you to decide for yourselves. There's no winner in this match-up, but there's also no loser, and whichever phone you opt for you can't really go wrong.

But with Android growing faster than anyone could have predicted, and a new iPhone only months away, the game could change in the blink of an eye. Don't touch that dial.

LG Optimus Black Nova display specs

The LG Optimus Black has been on our radar since the turn of the year, but now that LG has confirmed it will be released in Europe this month we thought we’d take a closer look. Chief among the slim device’s spec boasts is LG’s new NOVA screen tech. We take a closer look.

LG made some pretty bold statements about the Optimus Black’s NOVA screen when it was unveiled back in January. According to the Korean firm, the 4-inch screen will be “the brightest, clearest and most readable among mobile screens.”

In a field that includes the iPhone 4‘s pin-sharp Retina display and the Samsung Galaxy S 2‘s radiant Super AMOLED Plus screen, that’s quite a boast. What makes LG think it can trump such formidable rivals?

It’s got nits

One of the main features of the Optimus Black’s NOVA screen is that it outputs “700 nits of brightness for optimal visibility.” While it might sound like a scalp-irritating bug, a nit in this context is in fact a unit of luminous intensity.

To illustrate how the NOVA screen stacks up, the MacBook Pro I’m typing this on (which features one of the finest displays in the business) outputs an estimated 300 nits. Closer to home, the Samsung Galaxy S and S 2 also output around 300 nits, while the iPhone 4 is said to output around 500 nits.

The first and most obvious advantage of the Optimus Black’s NOVA screen, then, is that it’s considerably brighter than its rivals.

Pure vision

It’s not just the brightness that makes NOVA screen tech stand out. We often speak about black reproduction on mobile displays, but equally important is how they render whites. After all – most of the traditional websites and documents you view on your phone will likely be predominantly white.

Most handsets struggle to produce proper whites, offering up a slightly dull or even greyish shade rather than purer eye-popping blanc. LG claims that its NOVA screen tops its rivals in producing “pure white tones.”

Sure enough, third party tests have so far backed up LG’s claims. GSMArena pitched the LG Optimus Black against a number of handsets, including the iPhone 4 and Samsung Galaxy S 2, and found that “in all but the NOVA display, the (black-to-white) gradient has a tinge of color.”

The other benefits of NOVA screen technology relate to the practicalities of mobile phone usage, and so are easily as important as brightness levels and white production.

Practical matters

For one thing, the NOVA screen’s inherent brightness and the thinness of the display mean that the Optimus Black maintains “visibility whether indoors or outdoors under strong sunlight,” according to LG. Considering the nature of mobile phones, it’s surprising how hard they can be to see while mobile – especially in the middle of summer with the sun blaring.

As well as visibility in sunlight, the Optimus Black uses IPS (In-plane Switching) technology to boost viewing angles. This means that the screen remains equally vibrant even when you’re sneaking an angled glance on a crowded train or in a meeting. The iPhone 4 also uses an IPS panel, and boasts some of the best viewing angles in the business, so it’s a proven improvement for LCD screens.

Finally, LG makes some bold claims with regard to the Optimus Black’s battery life, which are specifically linked to its new screen technology. Apparently NOVA “reduces power consumption by 50 percent during general indoor use compared to a conventional LCD.” It also tops Samsung’s AMOLED technology in certain conditions: “AMOLED consumes twice as much power as NOVA to display a full white screen, the most frequently used colour scheme for web browsing,” says LG.

The Galaxy S 2′s Super AMOLED Plus display may well be more efficient when rendering blacks (thanks to the lack of a backlight), but when the picture is predominantly white (which, as we’ve discussed, is fairly often) its power consumption rockets past that of the Optimus Black’s NOVA display.

Conclusion

Of course, we’ll have to wait until the LG Optimus Black is on the market an in our hands before we can properly judge the impact of this new NOVA screen technology. Early reports suggest that it certainly excels in some areas (notably brightness and white reproduction) but doesn’t quite match its rivals in others.

All we know for sure is that there’s another bright spark on the mobile display scene, which can only be good for competition.

Galaxy S 2 Google movie rentals detailed

Google finally announced its cloud-based movie rental plans at the Google I/O event last night. Read on to find out how this will work and why it’s so significant for the Samsung Galaxy S 2.

How it works

Google’s movie rental service will allow you to rent and stream movies from the cloud onto any of your Android devices or your computer. You’ll start by choosing your rental from the Android Market – whether that’s the web browser-based version or through the new movie section on the mobile Android Market.

One you’ve selected your film (prices start from $1.99 in the US, while HD films appear to cost $4.99) they become available for viewing on any of your registered devices for 30 days, although they must be watched within 24 hours of starting them.

You might wonder how practical streaming movies – a data-intensive process at the best of times – to your Galaxy S 2 will be over a 3G network, but thankfully you shouldn’t have to worry about that. Google enables you to “pin” the films to the device, which then starts a background downloading process, thus allowing you to watch the films offline.

What’s in it for the Galaxy S 2?

Google’s movie rental hub is particularly good news for the Samsung Galaxy S 2. In the coming months, HTC will release most direct rival to the Galaxy S 2 yet, the HTC Sensation.

If you’ve been reading our site for the past month or two you’ll know that the Sensation is a serious multimedia machine, with a 16:9 screen and – vitally – the HTC Watch service that lets you stream movies to the phone. The arrival of Google’s own movie service is perfectly timed to take the sting out of what would have been a major advantage for the HTC device.

The second reason Google’s movie service is such good news for the Samsung Galaxy S 2 is that it’s one of the best smartphones for playing videos. For one thing there’s that stunning 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus screen, which has the best colour contrast and the blackest blacks in the business – two things that any film buff will look for in a display.

Another point to consider is that the Galaxy S 2′s ARM Mali-400 MP is one of the best mobile GPUs around when it comes to playing video. Thanks to support for ARM‘s Neon engine, the Galaxy S 2′s graphics chip “efficiently processes current and future multimedia formats” and can accelerate video and image processing.

Coming to a phone near you

Sadly, Google’s movie service is a US-only affair right now, although even US Samsung Galaxy S 2 users won’t be able to download the accompanying smartphone app for a couple of weeks. We’d expect the UK to be the next in line to receive the service, which should (we hope) be very soon.

When it does, we know which Android smartphone we’ll be using to stream our films to – the Galaxy S 2 was built for showing off pin-sharp videos on the go. Suddenly those dull commutes seem a lot more appealing.

iPhone 6 is the future

The white iPhone 4 debuted Thursday. iPhone 5 hasn't even been announced. But blogs are already speculating about iPhone 6

(CNN) -- If you're a mainstream Apple fan, you probably got all hot and bothered on Thursday when an e-mail hit your inbox saying the "amazing iPhone 4" is now available in white. Previously the phone only came in black, and tech blogs have been drooling over the possibility of this white whale of a phone for months.

But the real Apple nerds are so over that now.

Even rumors about the yet-to-be-announced-and-possibly-non-existent iPhone 5 are growing passé.

The new topic du second: the "iPhone 6."

Seriously, people? A new version of the iPhone 4 just came out. People have been talking about the iPhone 5 for -- well, pretty much since right after the iPhone 4 debuted in June 2010. And now, even before the release of the iPhone 5, which is rumored to come out in September, the techies are fixated on the next-next version.

This might seem ludicrous, but maybe it's normal in the hyper-drive world of tech news. So we'll go with it. Here's a look at what the plugged-in bloggers are saying about the iPhone 6 (to repeat: not the iPhone 5, but the one after that).

The name: Everyone seems to be calling Apple's next-next smartphone the iPhone 6, but it's unclear whether that really will be the name. Apple hasn't gone chronologically in the past. The iPhone 4 seemed to be more of a hint that Apple wished the phone worked on a 4G network than the model number. After the original iPhone came the iPhone 3G (which works on AT&T's 3G network) and then the iPhone 3GS (the "S" supposedly stands for "speed," since that phone was faster). The fact that there never was an "iPhone 2" kind of discounts this look-at-the-numberline approach.

The release date: 2012 seems logical. As The Atlantic writes in another rumor round-up post, "that makes sense as it fits with the smartphone's history; since it debuted in 2007, a new model has come out every year."

The screen: The Japanese publication Nikkan started the iPhone 6 rumor mill with a post saying Sharp will produce a new kind of screen for the phone.

Thinner and lighter: Some smartphones -- particularly Android phones -- are getting bigger, since big screens are better for watching video.

Apple's iPhone 6 is rumored to continue to get thinner and lighter.

Here's what Apple Insider has to say on the subject: "The liquid crystal display on the anticipated 'iPhone 6' is said to feature 'low-temperature poly-silicon' technology, a next-generation display format that allows for thinner and lighter screens that consume less power than traditional LCD screens."

The Register says this screen tech could end up in tablets, too.

What do you want to see in the iPhone 5/6? Do you want to start speculating about an iPhone 7? You can tell us in the comments now. Or, if you want to digest this whole situation for a few months and get back to us, that's absolutely OK, too.

Samsung Droid Charge vs Others

Click For Larger Image

Samsung Droid Charge vs white iPhone 4

iPhone 4

Samsung Droid Charge

Tech Specs Sheet, LTE versus design

Verizon’s Samsung Droid Charge and Apple’s white iPhone 4 tech specs sheet that you need to see before buying.

Today is the release date of two high-end smartphones, the Samsung Droid Charge and the white-colored iPhone 4.

The Samsung Droid Charge is the second-LTE enabled smartphone of Verizon Wireless, packed with 1 GHz single core processor, 8 megapixel camera for shooting HD videos and capturing quality still shots, and supports mobile hotspotting of up to 10 WiFi enabled devices.

Meanwhile, the white iPhone 4 is the latest product of Apple available via AT&T and Verizon. The new iPhone 4′s specs is the same as the black iPhone 4, so the only difference is the packaging of the device.

Still undecided if what’s the perfect phone for you? Well, see our little tech specs sheet to quickly compare the two devices. One of the biggest advantages of the Samsung Droid Charge is the LTE support. Apparently, the Long Term Evolution is faster (way faster) than the regular 3G CDMA speed. Design-wise, I think Apple’s iPhone 4 is still better.

10 Thing Windows Phone 7.5 Will Have Before Nokia Windows Phone Arrives

Microsoft has said that it will be launching the Windows Phone 7.5 update later this year and that Windows Phone Developer Tools will be available in May. These tools will come with a bunch of new features. In light of the agreement with Nokia, we thought we’d check out 10 things Microsoft Windows Phone 7.5 will have.

We have to say from the outset that while Microsoft and Nokia have penned an agreement to make Windows Phone OS the platform of choice on Nokia Windows Phone devices, it’s not been announced yet when the first devices will officially ship. However, with Microsoft offering a host of new features in the next major update we thought it worth checking them out.

Check out our Nokia Windows Phone roundup

1: Multitasking: This looks like being a big one, as it allows for the fast switching of applications, as well as allowing for functions to run in the background, such as file transfer and music player.

2: Live Tiles: Live Agents will run in the background and deliver real-time updates, such as Push Notifications and Deep Linking, which all sounds very important.

3: Better phone integration: Microsoft is claiming this has been greatly improved, giving developers greater flexibility to do more with their apps via Live Tiles.

4: Better Camera functionality: Microsoft is allowing developers access to the camera stack, which means Nokia will easily be able to add it’s camera top-tech without having to

5: Better Motion Sensor library: Developers will be able to develop apps and games that take into not only the camera but also the gyroscopic and compass, so we should see a host of augmented reality games appearing.

6: Internet Explorer 9: This will deliver a faster and cleaner browsing experience than ever before on Windows Phone OS.

7: HTML 5: This will allow for faster rendering of webpages and make life a whole lot smoother for developers and end users alike.

8: Windows Phone Marketplace: Microsoft are looking to make changes with a dedicated games Marketplace, better parental controls and even a new beta distribution service.

9: Angry Birds: Is coming to Windows Phone and will be available at the Windows Phone Marketplace beginning on May 25, 2011.

10: Skype: Another app that has been missing from the line-up will also be coming later this year.

By the time the first Nokia Windows Phone rolls of the production line most of these will be fully integrated into the OS. In the meantime let us know what you think about the changes Microsoft have planned for the operating system.

Nokia Windows Phone

World's largest mobile phone maker Nokia announced to transfer all its Symbian related activities including hand off of 3,000-strong workforce to Accenture.

It is being seen as one of the biggest strategic move by the Finnish company since its inception as Nokia was gung-ho about the Symbian OS when it had acquired Symbian in late 2008. It came as a shock to many Symbian loyalists as the Espoo based mobile phone maker had launched few smartphones based on the OS couple of weeks back, the latest models being the E6 and X7. The N8 was the first model to be launched on Symbian followed by E7.

The transfer of all Symbian activities to Accenture makes the future of the Symbian operating system very unclear. Questions are being raised as the IT consulting company would also work on Nokia's Windows platform simultaneously. It is being speculated that Nokia would completely drop the Symbian by 2012 and embrace Windows full time since it has announced that Nokia would adopt Windows Phone as its principal smartphone strategy and innovating on top of the platform in areas such as imaging, where Nokia is a market leader.

"At Nokia, we have new clarity around our path forward, which is focused on our leadership across smart devices, mobile phones, and future disruptions," said Nokia CEO Stephen Elop, in a statement.

The Finnish company had entered into an partnership with Microsoft in February this year for using its Windows based OS for future smartphones and other devices. It had then announced to cut 7,000 jobs globally. Out of this, 3,000 would be transfered to Accenture and the rest would laid off from Nokia's payroll completely. However, the company clarified that laying off process would be done in phases but would be completed by 2012.

Nokia said that the entire process is a part of its strategy to restructure its business processes and its alignment with future trends and demands. The company has consistently loosing its market share in smartphone sales, mainly to Apple and Android devices.

Samsung Galaxy S3

Samsung Galaxy S2

2GHz Samsung Galaxy S3 Takes On iPhone 5 This Fall?

While the iPhone 5 looks set to miss the summer line up of top tier smartphones (Motorola Droid Bionic, HTC Sensation, Samsung Galaxy S2), it may not be alone this fall either.
Samsung Galaxy S3 to join iPhone 5 this fall?

We are more and more convinced that the iPhone 5 will be arriving in early autumn, especially with the white iPhone 4 being launched so late. Samsung is working on a smartphone thought to be the Samsung Galaxy S3, and we can expect it also to be launched this autumn, according to Eldar Murtazin editor in chief of mobile-review.com.

A Korean online newspaper recently added to the speculation about the anticipated smartphone, quoting a Samsung official as saying: “We are planning to release a 2 GHz dual core CPU-equipped smartphone by next year. This product will have the data processing capacities of a regular PC."

Murtazin, who is well known for his predictions regarding smartphones, also having previously predicted that Nokia will start featuring Windows Phone 7, mentions that Samsung Galaxy S3 could come this fall and it could very well be the same smartphone that Samsung officials have been talking about.

If the Galaxy S3 will really “have the data processing capacities of a regular PC”, then the iPhone 5, which is also rumoured to be released this autumn, will meet a genuine rival.

On the other hand, there isn’t yet an official release data for the Galaxy S2 from the company itself, but we know that June is the scheduled month given by T-Mobile.

On a side note, the Samsung Galaxy S2 is yet to have an official release date in the US nor details on whether all 4 carrier will be picking up the smartphone just like they did with the original Galaxy S

Apple Ipad 3

Apple iPad 3 Quad Core A6 Processor Predicted

Today’s iPad 3 rumour comes by way of tech site T3, they say that the third generation tablet will up the processor stakes again by doubling its cores – yes they say it will come with a quad core processor, a spec that is currently reserved for powerful laptops.

They were talking with Miles Jacobson, the head man who heads up the Football Manager team. He explained “We have very good relationships with a lot of chipset and hardware manufacturers who’ve given us their roadmaps, and they’re drool-worthy.” He also predicts that the iPad 3 will come equipped with a quad core A6  processor with beefed up graphics to rival the Nvidia 8700 series.

If this prediction is accurate then it could mean high end games could come to the next series of tablets, a mouth watering prospect for the consumer that could spell the end of laptops and notebooks altogether.

Other recent rumours surrounding the iPad 3 include an improved screen, carbon fibre body, upgraded cameras and an all new iOS complete with music locker and cloud based storage. If today’s revelations are accurate we hope Apple plans to implement the battery technology outlined in a patent filed late last year, otherwise the 10 hour battery life enjoyed on both the iPad and iPad 2 is likely to be radically reduced.

Despite some big names suggesting the iPad 3 will land this side of Christmas it’s still unlikely Apple will do this, especially if the iPhone 5 rolls out in September. It would surely be too many products in such a short space of time.

Do you think the iPad 3 needs a quad core processor?

Review : BlackBerry PlayBook vs iPad 2

BlackBerry PlayBook vs iPad 2: Which Would You Rather Have Your Firm Pay For?
By Adrienne Gonzalez

Tablets are the new Pocket PC and while we may question the viability of accountants preparing tax returns on iPads, it might be time to take a look at the new BlackBerry PlayBook versus the iPad2 for all things somewhat work-related. Let’s go!

Pros of the PlayBook:
• features: 7″ LCD display, 1024 x 600 screen resolution, 1 GHz dual-core processor, 1 Gb RAM
• runs Flash so you can watch YouTube videos at the client
• works with Android applications so you have 200,000 Android toys at your disposal
• doesn’t run native email so you have a great excuse for ignoring emails (for now you can use the device as a viewer to connect to your BlackBerry smartphone but cannot actually open emails from the PlayBook)

Pros of the iPad 2:
• features: 9.7″ LED display with 1024 × 768 screen resolution at 132ppi, Apple 1GHz A5 Processor, 512 Mb RAM
• looks awesome
• inspires jealously among your friends who work for broke mid-tier firms
• makes you more likely to get robbed using it on the train, helping you get over your awkward social phobia by forcing you to talk to your would-be thief
• doesn’t run Flash so you won’t be tempted to waste precious time watching YouTube videos at the client (unless you’re clever enough to have a decent converter)
•works with thousands more apps than Android/BlackBerry offerings, allowing you a much larger pool of distractions to access from company PP&E

Though this writer must disclaim this entire article by pointing out that she is a BlackBerry fan, it’s worth pointing out that without playing with one, we have to say the PlayBook is definitely disappointing on the surface. Technology ED is nothing to joke about, and this release was definitely a premature splurt on the face of BB nerds everywhere. No native email? That doesn’t even make sense.

The only selling point on the PlayBook for work may be that many of you already carry around company-issued BlackBerry devices, and we all know management is resistant to change. While iPads have been marketed as convenience devices, BlackBerry has somehow retained its reputation as a work device, allowing a bit of an in when it comes to getting management to spring for a handful of these little toys.

As for increased productivity? We haven’t seen any proof from either device that shows putting one in staff hands leads to any greater enthusiasm for work. Until someone comes up with a mind control app, we’ll keep holding out.

As always, let us know in the comments if you wholeheartedly agree with our obviously biased opinion.

LG Optimus 3D

The availability of 3D content is a big issue at the moment so the justification for purchasing a 3D device is, simply put, a way to future proof yourself. Content is however, on an express train to Delivery-town so the wait is not going to be too long. Thus 3D fans will be happy to know that LG’s Optimus 3D smartphone is on its way and should be here in just a couple of months. However, at a recent press conference showcasing LG’s latest line of Smart 3D TVs, I got an opportunity to check out the handset that also happened to be part of their experience zone. Here are my first impressions.

Design
I’ll be brutally honest here - I’m not too thrilled with the design as it’s quite generic as high-end smartphones go. Not like the Xperia Arc or the Incredible S that do have that certain flair about them. The Optimus 3D’s most unusual feature are the dual camera cameras at the rear with an LED flash in between. Touch sensitive keys are located below the rather impressive looking glassless 3D ready display. The 4.3-inch LCD panel features a 480 x 800 pixel resolution with 16 million colors and is as sharp as it is bright. Even in the psychedelic glare of the colorful lights at the display, the screen was easily visible.

At just 11.9mm in depth it’s slim phone but a bit on the heavy side, weighing in at about 168 grams. On the right hand side is where you’ll find a micro USB port which is almost attached to the HDMI out port. 3D content can easily be viewed on supported TV’s or monitors via this channel but you will of course need the glasses for viewing.

Like I said, it might not have a design that you’d go crazy about but its USP is 3D content support.

Features
Products like the Optimus 3D mobile with its 3D rendering capabilities are going to be big when they’re launched. Since the whole 3D bug is already doing the rounds, the superb 3D UI and functionality of the handset to increase or decrease the level and depth of 3D (from every screen be it videos, images or games) will make this a hard handset to pass up. The fact that you have the option of easily switching to 3D and and so easily makes it quite appealing.

Playing games like Asphalt 6 and Nova on this large glass-less 3D display was quite an experience. Since you could reduce the level of 3D rendering, it was much easier on the eyes depending on the external lighting conditions. Games and even LG’s own Optimus 3D’s 3D media gallery and 3D UI are already in place for these products to showcase all kinds of preloaded goodies (hopefully). The YouTube 3D app will direct you to all the 3D content available on the web.

iPhone 5 vs 15 Android Phones

1. The iPhone 5: Obsolete Before Release?

The iPhone 5 may or may not be coming out in 2011. Assuming it does, there will be plenty of Android-based competition to deal with.

Since the original 2G model launched back in 2007, Apple’s iPhone products have typically been the King of the Smartphone Hill. Whether you're talking about the 3G, 3GS or the iPhone 4, there is no denying the success that Apple has enjoyed in this space, much of which is thanks to the potent hardware Apple puts into its products.

But what about Android devices?

The iPhone 2G and 3G wore the Best Hardware crown up until the release of the following model, but that started to change when the iPhone 3GS was arguably bested within several months by devices like the Motorola Droid and Google Nexus One. The iPhone 4 was the fastest smartphone for less than a month when the Samsung Vibrant launched with a larger screen, similar-but-faster CPU, and more potent GPU.

This year the iPhone 5 may be outclassed before it even launches, all thanks to the massive progression of the Android platform as well as the effort put in by chipmakers like Nvidia (Tegra), Texas Instruments (OMAP) and Qualcomm (Snapdragon). We’ve rounded up 15 high-end Android phones - some of which are already available while others are expected sometime later this year - that are ready to give the iPhone 5 (or iPhone 4GS, whatever it's called) a run for its money. We will give each phone an “iPhone Threat Level” of Green, Blue, Yellow, Orange, and Red; Green being little to no threat to the iPhone 5’s success, and Red being a severe threat.

This article is predominantly about the hardware within Apple and Android smartphones...but we do address software, design and UI layers to a certain extent, especially when we're talking about specific manufacturers like HTC. It's hard to talk about smartphone hardware without mentioning other factors, so keep that in mind as you read on.


2. A Peek Inside The iPhone 5

No one outside of Apple knows for certain what kind of specs the iPhone 5 might have, given the company’s secrecy (Apple is even vague on the specs of its released products), but there are plenty of rumors and speculation. You can be fairly certain that it will feature the same dual-core A5 processor found in the iPad 2, though the speed could be anywhere from 800 MHz to 1.2 GHz (for reference, the iPad 2's A5 is clocked at 900 MHz).

You might remember when Steve Jobs said no one would want a big smartphone, referring to those with screens 4-inches and larger. Well, all signs suggest that the iPhone 5 will have a 4-inch screen, though the overall size of the phone won’t be much bigger than the iPhone 4, thanks to potentially slimmer borders around the display. While a resolution bump is always a possibility, odds are it will still sport the same 960x640 resolution to help with backwards compatibility with apps in the App Store. This is further bolstered by the fact that even the newest Quad HD, or qHD, displays found on Motorola and HTC devices are "only" 960x540 (which is a 16:9 aspect ratio, by the way).

Will it have 4G? Who knows! AT&T’s 4G LTE network won’t be anywhere near ready for the iPhone 5 if the device comes out in 2011, and development constraints of building a Verizon 4G LTE version also make it unlikely. It should feature HSPA+ compatibility, however, which does count as a 4G standard (ITU standards excluded) and is capable of speeds up to 21 Mbps.

Other rumored features include a 12MP camera with 1080p video recording, an NFC (Near Field Communication) chip, facial recognition through the front facing camera to automatically unlock, and some very impressive battery life. Using previous iPhone releases as a barometer, the iPhone 5 will probably launch sometime in or after June, and before October of 2011. There are rumblings about a 2012 release...but we are ignoring that for the sake of this article.




3. HTC Sensation vs iPhone 5

Challenger: HTC Sensation

Processor: 1.2 GHz Snapdragon MSM8260

Screen Size: 4.3-inch qHD (960x540)

iPhone Threat Level: Red

With a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, the HTC Sensation already trumps even the most auspicious iPhone 5 rumors, though the formers Adreno 220 GPU likely won’t outperform the SGX543MP2, should the iPhone 5 get it. The Sensation will be launching on T-Mobile’s 4G HSPA+ network, meaning it will rocket past the iPhone 5 on AT&T’s HSPA+ or Verizon’s CDMA 3G networks.

All of that is only the tip of the iceberg, however; with HTC's Sense UI, users can expect a smooth experience and many iPhone-like features as well. The Sensation also offers a very feature-rich environment, with things like DLNA, Wi-Fi printer support, 1080p recording and playback, and even integrated editing software.

The HTC Sensation is looking to be the perfect device for anyone in the market for a high-end smartphone, but perhaps more importantly it offers a very easy transition for anyone interested in switching from the iPhone.


4. LG Optimus 3D vs iPhone 5

Challenger: LG Optimus 3D

Processor: TI OMAP4430 dual-core 1 GHz

Screen Size: 4.3-inch 800x480 Stereoscopic 3D

iPhone Threat Level: Yellow

Glasses-free 3D displays are something everyone seems interested in today (personally, I don’t think the technology is ready). The Optimus 3D is the very first phone not only to feature this 3D display technology, but record 3D movies and photos as well. With its dual 5MP cameras, it can record 1080p 2D or 720p 3D video.

Its dual-core 1GHz processor may or may not be more powerful than the iPhone’s A5, depending on its configuration. If the iPhone 5 is clocked at 800 MHz, the Optimus 3D will have quite an edge, but if we end up seeing a 1.2 GHz clock, the Optimus will lag behind. The iPhone 5 should best the Optimus 3D in terms of gaming performance, but the 3D display will undoubtedly be an attractive option to some.

It really all comes down to consumer interest in 3D displays and whether or not it detracts from the quality of the image when using it in 2D mode.


6. Motorola Atrix 4G vs iPhone 5

Challenger: Motorola Atrix 4G

Processor: Nvidia Tegra 2, dual-core 1 GHz

Screen Size: 4-inch qHD (960x540)

iPhone Threat Level: Orange

As the first dual-core smartphone released in the US, the Atrix 4G is a substantially powerful device. Nvidia’s Tegra 2 platform not only provides ample general processing power, but also leverages Nvidia’s graphics technology for advanced 2D and 3D capabilities. It’s difficult to say whether or not this will make the Atrix more powerful than the iPhone 5. If the iPhone 5 is clocked at just 800 MHz or if it only has a single core GPU, the Atrix 4G would certainly be the victor; however, if the 1.2 GHz rumors are to be believed, the Atrix will take the silver medal.

As far as 4G is concerned, the Atrix features AT&T’s HSPA+ network connectivity. Compared to Verizon’s 4G LTE or T-Mobile’s 4G HSPA+, you can barely consider AT&T’s current offerings 4G. In all likelihood, the iPhone 5 will feature identical, if not better, network speeds.

The real threat comes from the fact that the Atrix 4G is available now, with a slew of unique accessories, including a laptop dock. Anyone looking for a dual-core upgrade without waiting for the uncertain launch of the iPhone 5 may jump aboard the Atrix gravy train...if they don’t mind a slightly bulkier phone and foregoing the smoothness of iOS.

7. LG Optimus 2X vs iPhone 5

Challenger: LG Optimus 2X (aka T-Mobile G2x)

Processor: Nvidia Tegra 2, dual-core 1 GHz

Screen Size: 4-inch 480x800

iPhone Threat Level: Orange

The Optimus 2X was actually the world’s first dual-core smartphone and was just released for T-Mobile as the G2x. It features many of the same specs as the Atrix 4G, including a nearly identical processor. The reason the G2x is a bigger threat that the Atrix is because of the 4G network it’s on, its sleeker design, and pure Android interface that isn't bogged down by a hit-or-miss manufacturer UI layer.

T-Mobile’s 4G HSPA+ network is far faster than AT&T’s. On top of that, the G2x is not only compatible with AT&T’s HSPA+ network, but most European carriers as well, making it an excellent world phone...which happens to be another possible iPhone 5 feature. Unlike the Atrix, the G2x has an attractive and compact design, nearly as thin as the iPhone 4.

Perhaps most importantly is the G2x’s unadulterated Android interface. Unlike the Atrix, which occasionally lags due to un-optimized and resource heavy animations and transitions, the G2x offers a vanilla Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) experience just as smooth as Apple’s iOS.

8. Motorola Droid X^2 vs iPhone 5

Challenger: Motorola Droid X² (aka X^2 or X-Squared)

Processor: Nvidia Tegra 2, dual-core 1.2 GHz

Screen Size: 4.3-inch qHD (960x540)

iPhone Threat Level: Yellow

The original Droid X was a massive success, and the Droid X² (previously known as the Droid 2X) is a nearly identical phone but with some extensive internal upgrades. Going from a single-core 1 GHz processor to Nvidia’s latest dual-core 1.2 GHz Tegra 2 SoC creates a massive leap in performance, certainly on par with the offerings expected from the iPhone 5. Like its predecessor, it’ll have just about every additional feature a smartphone can, such as HDMI output, dual LED flash, and potentially 1080p video recording.

On the downside, it doesn’t seem that the Droid X² will get to play on Verizon’s super fast 4G LTE network, though the Verizon iPhone 5 likely won’t either. You're also going to have a slimmed-down version of Motoblur running atop Android 2.2 (Froyo), which might turn some potential buyers off. There’s also the small issue that the Droid X² release date is completely unknown, though still expected before the iPhone 5.

9. Samsung Galaxy S II vs iPhone 5

Challenger: Samsung Galaxy S II (or S2)

Processor: 1.2 GHz Dual-Core Exynos

Screen Size: 4.3-inch 800x480

iPhone Threat Level: Red

The original Galaxy S was a raging success world-wide. In the US, it is available on all of the major carriers; as the Fascinate on Verizon, the Captivate on AT&T, the keyboard-equipped Epic 4G on Sprint, and the Vibrant on T-Mobile. The Galaxy S II will likely take a similar approach.

Regardless of the processor speed in the iPhone 5, the Galaxy S II already has it 1-up’d, using an almost identical chip as the A5, but with a much faster Mali-400MP video processor. Samsung did this same thing with the original Galaxy S and the iPhone 4’s processor (that’s what Apple gets for sourcing Samsung for their chips).

As far as styling goes, the Galaxy S II is large, but also very thin, on track to become the world’s thinnest smartphone when it launches April 25th in South Korea (as well as May 1st in the UK and TBA in the US). It really does have the iPhone 5 beat in every aspect and definitely has the potential to break some of that Apple loyalty.

10. HTC Droid Incredible 2 vs iPhone 5

Challenger: HTC Droid Incredible 2

Processor: 1 GHz Snapdragon MSM8655

Screen Size: 4-inch 800x480

iPhone Threat Level: Blue

The original Droid Incredible was a powerful and uniquely attractive phone with plenty of features which made it very successful. While the Incredible 2 does improve on the original, it’s nowhere near groundbreaking.

It offers a 4-inch screen and remains a sleek looking device, but only features a 1GHz single core processor which, while significantly faster than the original, won’t stand a chance against the iPhone 5. It does have a very nice 8MP camera with dual LED flash and is expected to be world phone capable, though without Verizon’s 4G LTE. When it comes out on the 28th, it really won’t be drawing anyone’s attention away from the iPhone 5, apart from those who fell in love with the original Incredible.

11. HTC Thunderbolt vs iPhone 5

Challenger: HTC Thunderbolt

Processor: 1GHz Snapdragon MSM8655

Screen Size: 4.3-inch 800x480

iPhone Threat Level: Orange

The HTC Thunderbolt is Verizon’s very first 4G LTE smartphone, and it has gotten a lot of attention because of it. With real life download speeds hitting around 25Mbps, the iPhone 5 simply won’t be able to compete, even if it turns out to be HSPA+ capable. The Thunderbolt is also an extremely well built device, with solid construction and thoughtful kickstand.

Network speed is the only place where it has the iPhone 5 beat though. Apart from the 4G LTE antenna, the Thunderbolt is really nothing more than a tweaked EVO 4G, even sharing a similar 1GHz single core processor. It is a fast and capable processor, but it just pales in comparison to the iPhone 5. As many reviewers pegged it, the Thunderbolt is a 2010 smartphone with a 2011 network radio.

12. Samsung Infuse 4G vs iPhone 5

 

Challenger: Samsung Infuse 4G

Processor: 1.2 GHz Hummingbird

Screen Size: 4.5-inch 800x480

iPhone Threat Level: Yellow

When Steve Jobs said no one wants a big phone, the Infuse 4G may have been more of what he had in mind. Its 4.5-inch is both its biggest selling point as well as its biggest deterrent. It’s not quite as big as the failed Dell Streak, but it's stil larger than virtually any other smartphone currently on the market. With the backing of Samsung, however, it certainly stands a chance to steal away any prospective iPhone buyers looking for a slightly larger device.

Its 1.2 GHz Hummingbird processor is fast, but it’s really nothing more than a refreshed version of last year’s tech. In short: the Apple A5 CPU will smoke the Infuse 4G. Then, of course, there’s the issue of 4G; just like the Atrix, the Infuse 4G uses AT&T’s 4G HSPA+ network, topping out at just 14Mbps under ideal (read: impossible to achieve in real life) conditions. There’s no reason the iPhone 5 wouldn’t be able to achieve the same speeds.

13. LG Revolution vs iPhone 5

Challenger: LG Revolution

Processor: 1 GHz Snapdragon MSM8655

Screen Size: 4.3-inch 800x480

iPhone Threat Level: Yellow

The LG Revolution is basically just another 4G LTE smartphone for Verizon. Its specs are nearly identical to the already released HTC Thunderbolt, even using the exact same Snapdragon processor. All in all, it’s a decent phone, though it can’t really compete with the iPhone 5 on any aspect other than network speed and screen size. The Revolution has a strong following of interested potential buyers, and with an expected release date closer to Apple’s iPhone 5 launch than any other 4G LTE phones, it might pull a little bit of attention away from the iPhone 5.

14. Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc vs iPhone 5

Challenger: Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc

Processor: 1 GHz Snapdragon MSM8255

Screen Size: 4.2-inch 854x480

iPhone Threat Level: Yellow

Another device that focuses more on features than performance, the Xperia Arc is a very unique find. In terms of processor performance, the Arc really doesn’t fit in with the other 2011 smartphones, being better suited with phones released last year...but that isn’t what makes it special.

Sony Ericsson put a lot of effort into the advanced features of the Xperia Arc. For starters, its display uses technology derived from Sony’s top rated Bravia TVs, creating a extremely vivid and crisp image. It also includes Sony’s latest Exmor R image sensor which allows you to take amazing quality photos in nearly zero light situations. The Arc is also a super thin phone - second only to the impending Galaxy S2 from Samsung -  with great lines and a unique look. All of these are features the Apple markets heavily in the iPhone, and the Arc is definitely some strong competition.

15. Sony Ericsson Xperia Play vs iPhone 5

Challenger: Sony Ericsson Xperia Play

Processor: 1 GHz Snapdragon MSM8255

Screen Size: 4-inch 854x480

iPhone Threat Level: Orange

Many people purchase their iPhones almost primarily as gaming devices, and Apple certainly plans to market the iPhone 5 as such, pulling for game developer support in the iTunes App Store. The Xperia Play can single handedly bring this dream crashing down, simply because it has two things the iPhone doesn’t: a slide out gamepad and access to Sony's library of PlayStation games.

While it’s not exactly the PlayStation Phone everyone thought it was going to be, the Xperia Play is a PlayStation Certified Device and stands to bring a lot of PlayStation caliber games to the Android market. It’s not an end-all for Apple though, since the iPhone 5 is massively more powerful than the Play, and with the possibility of Bluetooth and snap-on gamepads, the iPhone can easily make up its disadvantage.

16. Motorola Droid Bionic vs iPhone 5

Challenger: Motorola Droid Bionic

Processor: Tegra 2, dual-core 1 GHz

Screen Size: 4.3-inch qHD (960x540)

iPhone Threat Level: Orange

The Droid Bionic is essentially a Verizon version of the Atrix 4G, minus the fancy dock accessories. With its dual-core Tegra 2 processor, it already rivals just about anything Apple can put into the iPhone 5. As a 4G LTE device, the Bionic will achieve faster network speeds than any version of the iPhone 5 (going by the generally accepted assumption that Apple will not be making the iPhone 5 compatible with Verizon’s 4G network).

All of this combined with the fact that iPhone loyalty on the Verizon network isn’t all that strong to begin with (several other Verizon smartphones are already outselling the iPhone 4), and the Droid Bionic poses a significant threat to the success of the iPhone 5 (on Verizon at least).

17. LG Nexus 3 vs iPhone 5

Challenger: LG Nexus 3

Processor: Nvidia Tegra 3, quad-core

Screen Size: Unknown

iPhone Threat Level: Orange

This one is currently in the rumor phase, but sources are saying that LG will be manufacturing the next Google Nexus phone and that it will feature Nvidia’s Tegra 3 (Kal-El) quad-core processor. Its release date (again, rumors) is sometime around November of this year. This does make it the only phone in this list to be expected AFTER the launch of the iPhone 5, but with Apple’s current troubles keeping on schedule, it’s possible that the Nexus 3 will be announced prior to the iPhone 5 launch.

What does all of this mean? It means that even if the iPhone 5 launches according to schedule, two months later there will be a phone on the market that is more than twice as powerful (or, using Apple’s math when comparing the iPad to the iPad 2, eight times as powerful).

Considering all the information on the Nexus 3 is nothing but unconfirmed rumors, it’s hard to say how much of a threat it might actually pose, but as soon as any of it is made official, you might as well bump the threat level up to Red.

Obviously Android and Apple aren’t the only two players in the smartphone game. RIM and its BlackBerry devices are still a force to be reckoned with, especially amongst business users, and Microsoft is making quite a few enhancements to its Windows Phone 7 line. While there aren’t any solid plans on releasing any dual-core monsters on the WP7 platform, there’s still a trend of positive progress. Most 2011 WP7 devices will be running the same single-core Snapdragon processors that several of the high-end phones in this list are using as well. Hardware isn’t the only place WP7 has been seeing improvement either. Since its release, it has been receiving a steady stream of software updates that are slowly adding more functionality, such as copy/paste, integrated search improvements, and most excitingly, multitasking.
It seems that this year Microsoft isn’t going to have anything to compete with the iPhone 5, but its recent partnership with Nokia, the once world champion of mobile phones, could easily mean that the iPhone 6 will have a bit more competition to deal with.

19. Conclusion Android vs iPhone 5

There’s not a doubt in our minds that every Apple store will have lines out the door on the day the iPhone 5 launches. Those willing to camp out and battle the endless lines are those that are in it for the Apple name, services and the security of a closed and strictly-regulated App Store. Those same people are not going to be concerned with purchasing the latest and greatest hardware, since we strongly believe that an iPhone 5 will be one-upped by devices with quad-core CPUs from Nvidia and strong dual-core offerings from TI and Qualcomm. It's true that hardware specs aren't the only category to be concerned about when buying a smartphone, as there have been plenty of smartphones with top-notch hardware that are bogged down by inferior software (the Nokia N8, for instance). But with Android 2.X maturing into a top-notch mobile OS that's packed full of functionality, the hardware is quickly becoming a deciding factor for consumer.

Parting with iOS may be difficult for some, especially those with a lot of money invested into the Apple App Store, but the smartphone app offerings from Android have grown to encompass all of the most popular iPhone apps already. Are you looking to play Angry Birds or use Tweetdeck and Foursquare? Those and most other apps that are popular in the App Store are now available in the Android Marketplace, too. Those looking for a smooth interface and hassle-free experience may want to stick with iOS, but plenty of Android phones offer that same experience, with stock Android and HTC SenseUI-equipped devices coming to mind first.

Let's face it: the iPhone isn’t top dog anymore when it comes to hardware, as this is not a clear-cut contest like days gone by. If you want the fastest, most technologically advanced smartphone available, it’s time to go Android, or at least seriously consider it...not to say that the iPhone and the always-unpredictable Apple are all that far behind.

Blackberry Playbook : I Like It

BlackBerry PlayBook : Seven Things I Like
By Kevin Tofel

It's easy to hate Research in Motion's new BlackBerry PlayBook. After all, it has relatively few applications available, doesn't yet offer a native e-mail client, and requires a BlackBerry handset for the most basic productivity apps. Yet one analyst thinks Research In Motion sold 50,000 tablets on the first day of availability. How could that be possible, given its scathing reviews and functionality oversights? Valid criticisms aside, there actually are some things that make the PlayBook an attractive device. Here are a few of them, based on my use of a review unit over the weekend.

• Stellar speakers. Mobile-device makers often cut corners to save a few dollars by using wimpy speakers. RIM certainly didn't take that route, and its effort can be plainly heard. The two speakers on the PlayBook are louder and better-sounding than those on any mobile device I've used.

• A fresh, fluid user interface. Yes, the new interface on top of the QNX operating system looks much like that of HP's webOS. That's not a bad thing because it's intuitive, simple to use, and makes great use of virtual screen space as menus float off the top or bottom of the PlayBook. I like it better than the interface of Google Android Honeycomb tablets, which I find very computer-like and less fit for a mobile device that's driven by touch.

• Wake with gestures. I'm not a fan of the very small power button that sits flush on the top bezel of the PlayBook, but it doesn't matter. There's no need to find and press the power button because the tablet wakes up with a swipe gesture from one edge of the device to another. This is a great use of the touch-sensitive bezel around the PlayBook's screen.

• Amazon Cloud Player on the Web. No other mobile device I've used can leverage Amazon's new Cloud Player service in a browser—at least none could before I tried the PlayBook. Thanks to Adobe Flash Player support, streaming audio from the Web works on the PlayBook, just as it does on my desktop computer. It sounds good, too. (See item No. 1, above.) A big downside is that music stops when you move to another browser tab or app. For now, you can't stream tunes in the background, at least not until the PlayBook gains Android software. Perhaps the Amazon MP3 app will work then.

• A multitasking monster. The best aspect of the new QNX operating system might be how well it handles multitasking. Again, the interface emulates that of webOS, complete with the flicking of apps off the screen to close them. Still, it works effectively. Plus the hardware is easily able to keep background apps running, even when it shows them in minimized view.

• A speedy, useful browser. Based on WebKit, like most mobile browsers, the PlayBook is a great Web surfing device. One tap removes the menu bar to offer a better full-screen experience, multiple tabs are supported, and the zoom feature is peppy. I ran the SunSpider JavaScript benchmark and the PlayBook returned a result of 2462 ms, which lags slightly behind the iPad 2 and its score of 2097. (Note: Lesser numbers are better.) The PlayBook's browser score is comparable to that of the forthcoming Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, which earned a SunSpider score of 2256 ms.

• The camera is solid. The PlayBook's camera sensor and Texas Instruments dual-core OMAP processor make a good combination. Still photos are quite usable and even 1080p video recording looks good at 30 frames per second.

There's no doubt that RIM will have to work at making the PlayBook a more attractive tablet. But the foundation for a positive PlayBook exists, with my list of likes supplementing the optimism in Om's initial PlayBook review. Now it's up to the company to attract developers, add some missing features, and continue maturing the already excellent QNX operating system. The last bit is very likely to happen, given that RIM's future smartphones will use QNX, too.