Plasma Vs LCD Vs LED TVs – What Are the Differences?

February 26th, 2011 854 Comments

In the last 10 years, TV technology has advanced to a great extent and has brought in state of art technologies in providing the finest flat-screen TVs. The most important aspect of the technology used has mainly focused around the size, resolution and compatibility and with this, in the last 5 to 10 years there has been a gradual change in the choice and viewing expectations of people.

The manufacturers have now started to put in unique features in their flat-screen TV models making the product having a distinctive advantage of full film effect viewing along with outstanding sound technology. There are various types of flat-screen TVs in the market today, and in order that you could decide between Plasma, LCD, and a LED TV, you ought to know a bit about the differences.

Overview of Plasma TV: The display in a Plasma TV is made up of millions of tiny plasma cells, and to put it simply, these cells emit light to create a complete image on the screen when a precise voltage is applied to them.

Plasma TVs available now offer larger screen size than LCDs. The screen sizes of Plasma TVs that are commonly available in the market include, 30 inch, 42 inch, 50 inch and 63 inch models, while the LCD TVs are limited to smaller screen sizes, which range from 10 inch to 40 inch models. Presently larger screen sizes of more than 60 inches are being made available in the market. One favourable point is that, the LCD technology is more flexible, which allows wide variety of screen sizes to be developed.

Advantages on Plasma TVs:
- Plasma TVs are available in larger display screen sizes.
- Plasma has better black levels, and also the contrast ratio.
- Plasma TVs can be viewed from any angle, as long as the viewing angle is between 160 to 180 degrees. - Plasma TVs have top refreshing rate which captures every detail in a fast action scene.
- Plasma screen can display billions of colors, producing smooth gradations of shades, enhancing the picture quality to a great extent, making the images life-like and realistic, responding sharply to fast moving images.

Disadvantages of Plasma TVs:
- Plasma TVS do not perform as well at higher altitudes.
- Plasma TVs are more susceptible to burn-in of static images.
- Plasma TVS are thicker than LCD TVs and hence much heavier.
- Plasma TVs produce glare in brightly lit rooms though some advancement in technology has been made to correct this.

Overview of LCD TVs: LCD TVs have Liquid Crystal Displays, a technology which is seen being used in computer monitors, cell phones, and at times are found in camera screens. LCD screen was first created for computer monitors, and now with the application of the technology in LCD TVs, they seem to be a bit better when you are playing games on your TV. However, the choice entirely depends on the user, since some like the vivid colors in Plasma TV, which comes from its deep black levels.

LCD panels work with liquid crystal solution being sandwiched between two polarized glasses. When an electrical voltage is applied to the liquid crystal, the crystals rotate, and this changes the polarization of the light passing through them. A LCD panel does not generate light by itself. It just filters or subtracts its back light source to create an image on the screen.

Advantages of LCD TVs:
- LCD TVs have better longevity than the Plasma. The average life-span has been predicted as more than 30 years.
- The display of LCD TVs uses lower power compared to Plasma TVs, but has more consumption than LED. - The screen sizes of LCD TVs are available in various sizes starting from computer monitor screens to over 60 inches.

Disadvantages of LCD TVs:
- The TV has a very poor contrast level and responds slower to fast moving images, creating a blur.
- The prices of LCD TVs are higher than the Plasma, and because of the demand and increased production the prices are gradually falling.

Overview of LED TVs: The term ‘LED’ stands for Light Emitting Diode. It is an electronic component which emits light when a certain voltage potential is applied to its terminals. Though the TV using this technology is call LED TV, but the LED light source is used as the TV’s backlight, while the TV screen is actually LCD. Though some current TV models use CCFL (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps), LED form of backlighting remains a far more efficient TV backlight system.

The Advantages of LED TVs are as follows:
- With LEDs as the backlighting source, the TVs have a far better dynamic contrast level than LCD TVs, since it uses a direct backlighting technology.
- LED TVS are ultra thin as much as about an inch in thickness.
- The power consumption of LED TVs are less than the LCD TVs currently available.
- Out of the flat screen TVs available in the market today, LED TVs are considered to be most reliable.

The disadvantage is that LED TVS are higher priced than LCD TVs, but prices are expected to come down with increased production.

The above is an attempt to provide a basic conception about the differences between the three technologies available presently in flat-screen TVs which would help a buyer to decide which TV to buy.

For more great tips and info on similar topics by the author, read his guides on plasma TV wall mounts here.

He also runs a number of website info pages, including these sites which stock the latest plasma wall mounts and lCD wall mounts.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Mason

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Review of the LG Town GT350

February 1st, 2011 1,631 Comments

Look, Design, Feel (8/10)

Targeted at sweet sixteen kids, the LG Town comes in four funky colours: blue, purple, silver and black. The colour, even if it does not appeal to all age slots, is pleasing to the eye specially the blue-white combo. Until the blue keyboard appears, the complete handset is dipped in white colour with abstract grey patterning at the back.

The spunky handset is quite compact in size measuring diminutive at 52 x 107 x 16mm. It slides into the purse or a pocket easily, and is also easy to grasp.

Coming to the phone’s hardware configurations, the LG Town bestows both a touch screen panel as well as a QWERTY keyboard. The 240×400 pixels resolution is a resistive touch screen display that many would not prefer, but at such a drop-down price one can’t expect much. Below the touch panel is the center key for running multiple apps and call/end keys on either sides. The center key gets the phone going as it helps switch between apps as well as returning to the home screen.

The 3.5mm head jack and lock/power button occupy vertically only the top, whilst on the sides the volume rocker and microSD card slot get hold of the left. The micro-USB connector and camera shortcut button get their share on the right side.
LG Town incorporates a meager 2-megapixel camera located on the back with no flash or other additional bonuses.

Features (8/10)

The LG Town has a simple menu; easy to navigate and operate. Perhaps similar to the KS360 Tribe, the menu consists of three customizable home screens on which one can adjust the widgets as per need. There’s also the ‘LiveScreen’, third of the three screens which you can animate with avatars each for your favourite contacts. It’s a better way of reaching out to frequently contacted people rather than go the whole way with the contacts menu.
As you drill into the menu, there are four more options; communication, entertainment, utilities and settings with two more screens. The software is very easy to operate, but sometimes the hardware gets its hiccups while navigating through menus.

In the role of a social networking phone, the LG Town plays its part well, though some flaws are hard to digest. The plus points include a direct approach toward contacts with homescreen ‘avatar’s', an on-screen alphanumeric keyboard and a QWERTY keyboard. All the advantages mentioned above start fading when it comes to pre-loaded social networking apps such as Facebook and Twitter. There is no support for Twitter at hand and for you to source the web to visit its site means using Opera mini browser. It’s disappointing since the phone is touted as a social networking compatible device.

The meager 2-megapixel camera of the LG Town fails to click images that are of high quality. Additionally, there are no supplementary features to improve the appearance of picture.
Video is available at a low 320 x 240 resolution, which is something we didn’t appreciate since the quality is the same as the camera shots.

Connectivity (6/10)

There’s no 3G/Wi-Fi available making us ultimately dependent on GPRS/EDGE speeds. However, checking the phone’s price we were content with what LG offered. Bluetooth as a medium of wireless connectivity and microUSB port to connect to the PC are omnipresent.

Performance (6/10)

The LG Town treads on a thin line of advantages and disadvantages. The price of the handset is its major calling point for which it has backed out on quite a few important features. These include the SNS apps, hardware, connectivity and multimedia apps quality.

As there’s no high-speed connectivity options available on-board, battery performs well lasting for quite a few days. On average, it lasts for a two-day period.

Value for Money (6/10)

Taking into consideration both price and feature factors, the LG Town doesn’t appeal to us as a social networking device. The look of the phone, its QWERTY keyboard and ease of use impressed us, but the sluggish menu and absence of important features was disappointing. An inexpensive, standard phone with a few notable features would compile the phone’s judgement. We would recommend the LG Cookie series rather this one.

Pros

  • Interesting design
  • Sensitive interface
  • Bright screen
  • Good QWERTY keyboard with shortcut buttons
  • LiveSquare screen
  • Good battery life

Cons

  • Lack of multiple connectivity options
  • Sluggish navigation
  • Low resolution camera
  • No GPS
  • No Accelerometer

Kyles Humphreys writes about the latest business phones that are released on the market and gives in-depth reviews once he receives the products from the manufacturers, click to find out more about the Phones.com

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Motorola Droid Vs iPhone – Which Is the Better Smartphone?

January 24th, 2011 1,529 Comments

Everybody seems to be going Android these days. I know I did! But which is really better – the Droid or the iPhone?

I am probably one of the few people who actually had a Droid and an iPhone at the same time. Because of my work, I had to carry two phones. My personal phone of choice was the Droid, and my work gave me an iPhone.

Before doing any comparison, let me say that they are both great phones, and I seriously doubt you will disappointed in either phone. However, let me give you a few categories to compare them in so you can make an informed decision -

Apps

The availability of apps can make or break a smartphone. While both the Droid and the iPhone have a significant amount of apps, currently, the iPhone has many more apps than the Droid has. However, having owned both phones, quantity does not always equal quantity, and I was almost always able to find a comparable Droid app that would do the same thing that the equivalent iPhone app would do.

So, when it comes to apps in the Motorola Droid vs. iPhone Debate, I have to call it a tie. Even though the iPhone has more, they both still had the same kinds of apps.

Service

The wireless service was really what made the difference for me when choosing a phone. Since the iPhone is still exclusively on AT&T, and I have had trouble with their service in the past, I chose to go with the Droid on Verizon. Verizon hs a much higher quality score than AT&T when it comes to essentially all aspect of cell phone service. However, the actual service you get may vary depending on where you live and what level of signal you can get.

I also like the fact that I could actually change phone companies and still use my Droid.

Overall, the clear winner when it comes to service in the Motorola Droid vs. iPhone argument – Verizon.

Hardware

The Droid has a physical keyboard, while the iPhone does not. Personally, I love having a keyboard and think it is almost essential for anyone who texts or types a lot of emails on their phone. However, many people could do without the keyboard and want a smaller, lighter device, which the iPhone gives.

Also, the Droid allows for a memory upgrade via a data card. The iPhone does not. This also for more storage space, and it makes it easier to move your data one phone to another.

I will give the win in this category to the Droid, only because it has the data card, since some disagree with me on the keyboard debate.

Price

Right now, the Droid is cheaper than the iPhone, and overall, service for the Droid is about the same cost as with the iPhone. However, this can vary based on promotions that might be going on with either wireless company, so it is always good to check for those first. Overall, the cost of having and using either phone is going to be about the same.

For this category, it is really another tie.

Conclusion

So, that is two ties and two wins for the Droid. I would not call that a decisive victory for the Droid, but it is a victory nonetheless. Some of you out there will still like the iPhone better anyway, so make sure you go try out both phones before you buy anything, but if it were me choosing between these two, I would go for the Droid!

Getting a Droid and want stuff for it? Make sure you check out Casey’s Droid store!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Casey_Case

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Sneak Peak at the New Archos 101 Internet Tablet

December 16th, 2010 1,538 Comments

ARCHOS 101 Internet Tablet 16GB

It appears that Archos has done it again. Yep, they have another upcoming internet tablet that is about to be unveiled, just in time for Christmas. The Archos 101 is the latest creation bestowed upon us by Archos. This Android powered touch screen tablet is a beautiful display of how style can successfully meet functionality. Before making its 2010 debut as the latest internet tablet, here is a sneak peak of what the Archos 101 has to offer:

  • An intuitive Android operating system that offers full Adobe Flash 10 support (unlike the iPad), the ability to view the entire width of web pages, a 3D graphics accelerator, and WiFi connectivity. This Android tablet provides everything you need in order to successfully replace your PC without compromising your web surfing experience. It includes chat applications, a webcam, email capabilities, comfortable keyboard, and a powerful processor.
  • A cool sleek design that is compact, attractive and cutting edge. The Archos 101 is a touch screen tablet of thin stature. With a weight of 16.9 oz and 12mm (0.47″) thin, this Archos Android tablet is quite awesome indeed. Dynamite comes in small packages – and this Archos internet tablet is definitely explosive. To top it all off, it comes with an adjustable leg stand that allows you to more ergonomically use the device while it sits on a flat surface. No accessory needed.

    • A ton of applications to make this internet tablet yours and yours alone. Archos offers a world of apps right at your fingertips to create a completely customized experience that allows you to feel right at home with your Archos 101 touch screen tablet. Download 3D games, video chat apps, newspapers, instant messaging, and so much more. You are only limited by your imagination.

    Overall, the Archos 101 tablet is an impressive device both in terms of design and capabilities. The whole Archos 101 experience is nothing short of amazing and will undoubtedly be a favorite this Christmas and throughout 2011. This is the gift everyone wants! I hope Santa is taking notes.

    In this article Wayne Hemrick writes about the touch screen tablet

    Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wayne_Hemrick

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    Is Archos 9 PC Tablet the Netbook of the Future?

    December 15th, 2010 1,740 Comments

    Archos 9 PC Windows 7 Starter Tablet (Black)

    Netbooks come in all forms, shapes and sizes. The manufacturers are working full time these days to bring out the best netbooks. In this brief review, I will be considering the Archos 9 PC tablet – this is actually a netbook that is camouflaged to look like a tablet PC (and hence the PC tablet terminology). A brief insight into the technical specifications of this particular netbook along with minor tidbits into the advantages, which you will be able to realize by empowering yourself with the same – all these will be illustrated amply in the succeeding sections.

    An Intel ATOM Z510 processor that is capable of clocking speeds up to 1.1 GHz is housed within the Archos 9. The advantages of using an Intel ATOM processor in this netbook are manifold. The user will be able to harness suitable computing capabilities along with an augmented battery backup time. According to the official specifications (given on the official website), the battery pack is capable of powering the device for about five hours. The figure might seem a bit to the lower side, because some of the models released by the competitors can easily clock a minimum of eight hours or even more.

    The display of the display screen is just 8.9 inch. Well, you cannot expect more from a netbook. The LED backlighting technology is also praiseworthy. The default resolution of the screen is 1024 x 600. A low power video chipset is built into the Archos 9. You must not try to use the netbook for playing the latest video games – it will not even initialize on the Archos 9. A notable addition is the touch sensitive screen – controlling the vital functions of the device is now even easier with your fingers. By default Microsoft’s latest OS, the much acclaimed Windows 7 (Starter Edition) is loaded into the device.

    The minimum requirements of the OS (as cited by Microsoft) include the presence of 1 GB RAM at the minimum. Archos 9 is bestowed with the same. The hard disk drive space of the netbook is just 60 GB. It is possible to augment the storage capacity; you will have to do it on your own. Likewise, communication options are currently limited to three – Wi-Fi, Ethernet and Bluetooth. The device also features built in microphones and speaker systems to augment your entertainment options.

    A 1.3 MP camera is,integrated into the Archos 9. The image quality of this cam is not at all exceptional. The device is extremely portable and weighs just 800 grams. During our tests, the device was extremely sluggish and took time to register our commands! Many other reviewers have attributed it to the underpowered processor and the limited RAM. On the other hand, if you are searching for a slick netbook, which can be exhibited as a tablet PC, Archos 9 is the real deal. A host of software solutions and office solutions is, included with the device, likewise. Look out for special sale offers on the internet.

    To get possible price for Archos 9, we would recommend you to check out our online portal http://www.minidisc.com.au/.

    Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marqus_Smith

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    Apple iPod touch (Fourth-Generation)

    November 26th, 2010 2,895 Comments

    Apple iPod touch 32 GB (4th Generation) NEWEST MODEL

    Apple’s iPod touch has come a long way since its debut in 2007, a year that saw the company take pains to describe the device as a stripped-down iPhone—the Wi-Fi-only touch was “training wheels” for Apple’s flagship product, as the company’s CEO once put it. The first-generation iPod touch was thinner and simpler than an iPhone, but lacked for enough hardware and software that customers were supposed to covet the more expensive product instead. Over the next two years, Apple reimagined the touch as a multifunction device for gamers, and a rehabilitated second-generation model made screen and processor improvements, added a speaker, volume controls, and most of the iPhone’s applications, and tweaked its body with sleeker curves. A third-generation version made only internal changes, though leaked prototypes suggested a rear camera was in the works, too. By mid-2010, the iPod touch had become a hit on its own merits as a media player and Internet device, as well as a legitimate challenger to dedicated portable gaming consoles from Nintendo and Sony.

    But the iPhone has continued to evolve, too, and Apple has wrestled every year with how many of its features to bring to the iPod touch, then whether to use equivalent or less impressive components. With this year’s model, the iPod touch has officially settled into a comfortable position two steps behind the iPhone in hardware while coming as close as possible in software. The new fourth-generation iPod touch (8GB/$229, 32GB/$299, 64GB/$399) has—sort of—gained the marquee features of the iPhone 4, including a 960×640-resolution Retina Display, front and rear video cameras, and a new Apple A4 processor, though once again, each of these features has been quietly hobbled to let the iPhone 4 stand out. By any measure, the new model offers marked upgrades over its popular 2009 predecessor, but whether you’ll be satisfied with them depends on whether you view any improvement as good enough, or expect a full iPhone 4-caliber device minus the phone for a lower, contract-free price.

    As most of the fourth-generation iPod touch user experience remains unchanged from the models released over the past two years, our comprehensive review of the new device focuses primarily on differences between it and its predecessors

    Article Source: http://www.technology.freearticledirectories.com

    www.ipodtouch64gb4g.com

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    Which Type Of TV Should I Choose LCDs Vs Plasmas

    November 26th, 2010 2,333 Comments

    LCDs don’t emit any light; instead they use millions of crystals which are held in suspension by a liquid between two transparent panels. A bright fluorescent backlight is then sent through the crystals, which allow it or prevent it from passing through the panels to create an image, while colours are controlled by a filter.

    Plasma technology relies on chemical compounds, these are called phosphors. Each pixel is made up of three phosphors displaying the primary colours – Red, Green and Blue (RGB). The intensity of the beam strikes the phosphors which emit light and create images on our screen

    Size. LCDs are the lighter between the two, as they don’t carry the gas-filled chambers and heavy glass panels in a plasma TV. But if size is important, plasma TVs are traditionally the heavyweights offering a massive choice of large screen sizes above 32in. LCDs are fighting back but it seems the larger the3 screen the worse the performance.

    Price. LCDs are usually more expensive than plasmas of the same size. A 42in plasma can be foudn from around 1,500 GBP for a decent display while you’ll find that a 37in LCD come in at 2,300 GBP. LCD costs will continue to fall and smaller screen sizes are more affordable, but for the moment plasmas offer more bang for your bucks.
    Viewing angle. From experience, plasmas offer a better and wider viewing angle as light is emitted from the pixels themselves while with LCD TVs the backlight creates excessive brightness and colour shift if you move off-axis from the screen.
    Life span. LCDs tend to last longer while the early plasmas were limited to their life span.. But from an energy point of view plasmas TVs consume up to 30% more than LCDs.

    Overall Performance

    Brightness. LCDs produce brighter pictures because of the technology used. A Bright picture exposes more detail and the colours look instantly engaging, however images can appear superficial and often disguise poor contrast
    Contrast – The pixels in a plasma TV can be controlled to emit no light, so they produce deeper black levels, which define the contrast variable. Plasmas also produce better a far better grey scale which reveals more detail in dark picture areas. Contrast figures are always given as a ratio, which is the difference between the darkest black and brightest white e.g. 3000:1.

    Colour. LCD TVs are very bright by the nature of the technology and so they make primary colours appear vibrant. Plasmas are a more natural, more accurate colour, but Colours are a case of personal preference that can be influenced by the type of films you watch.

    Movement. It is known that there is a faster pixel response time in plasmas with fast-paced action, while many early LCD TVs had blurred edges and streaming trails. However, recently with technology advancement the difference is only slight.
    So you can know make your informed choice. I hope you enjoy it.

    Article Source: http://www.technology.freearticledirectories.com

    I’m Sally Robbins and I am a technology expert specialising in audio and visual equipment. For further information on cheap LCD TVs or TVs please contact Ebuyer.com

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    Review of the Motorola MOTOROI XT720

    November 26th, 2010 1,888 Comments

    Look, Design, Feel (8/10)

    MILESTONE XT720 breaks free from archetypal moulds coupling the asymmetric face design with a camel hump on the back. Diversely opposite looking to regular smartphones the smoothened slab on the front, angled with a sudden projection on the side renovates the phone completely. Even the grasps feel different and definite; metallic on the top and a firm rubberized body bottom.

    By no means is the phone featherweight tilting the scales at 160 grams. Dimensions account for 61mm x 116mm x 11mm assuring a large screen size yet a compact hold for regular use. Its extremely bulky design is not portable or of much help during calls (unless you use an external hardware device such as a Bluetooth). However the build, provides the grip to operate all other web and multimedia functions.

    Since, a full touchscreen dominates the front face, the physical buttons are cornered on the side. Find a microUSB port, volume keys, 3.5mm head jack, camera control buttons, lock or unlock buttons and most importantly the HDMI output port.

    Given that the hardware lacks any physical buttons on the front, we were sometimes left gritting about wrongly pressed buttons. Nevertheless, it is forgiven for the experience of 3.7″ display putting up an unforgettable show of images, videos and web pages.

    The camel hump back may seem intriguing at the start but with time, we got used to it. The 8 megapixel camera lens with Xenon flash is on the corner of the backside with a slide out battery cover. Positioned behind the battery cover is the microSD card slot, a somewhat tricky place to hold a card.

    Features (8/10)

    Motorola is collaborating with Android operating system for its MILESTONE series with this one boasting of 2.1 Éclair version. We keep our fingers crossed for a 2.2 Froyo update at the earliest. Similar to other Android running phones, MILESTONE includes the regular Google functions such as Search, Calendar and Gmail. There’s always an access to the Android market for free download of apps.

    A slight twist with the MILESTONE XT720 is its interface, drastically different from its MOTOBLUR siblings. The change is not some major makeover and includes some shortcuts to shot put you back to the home screen. A five panel customizable home screen makes up the default interface of the phone. If you want to customize the menu, just pull up the arrow at the bottom of the screen revealing a full array of menu options. Again, there are quite a few Android apps pre-installed counting popular Google applications like YouTube, Google Maps, Gmail, etc and for the remainders the market is a tick away.

    The interface sits on 480×854 pixels, 3.7-inch gigantic display, and is crisp enough to view videos, images and web pages. There is no pixilation of images/videos nor does it disappoint in the web-browsing department. However, would we put it on higher pedestal than Samsung AMOLED and Retina display of iPhone 4? Certainly not! The screen puts on a brave front indoors, but goes for a toss when exposed under direct sunlight. Sadly, you compromise with the fact that the lighting situations will decide the fate of the icons visibility.

    There’s something about the display that’s not to be missed. The magnifying glass features used as a cursor while reading the text pinpoints to the exact location and is helpful since the physical buttons are absent.

    Another important aspect of the MILESTONE XT720 is its 8-megapixel camera and 720p video footage. Motorola puffs up its chest on these two selling points. We certainly agree with Motorola’s stand seeing that the camera is really very, very good. Its Xenon flash, auto focus and potential to get up close to objects earns it its brownie points.

    The HD video recording deserves a similar applause. The footage was well groomed and played smoothly with no bumpy rides. For both the camera and video, a point to remember is these features are embedded in a phone and not comparable to high-end digital cameras & camcorders.

    Connectivity (9/10)

    Connectivity is a complete package with Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth, 3G and GPS all on-board. The phone is capable to handle external memory up to 32GB that is expectedly good enough to load an adequate amount of multimedia files.

    Performance (8/10)

    Motorola has perked up the processor of the MILESTONE XT720 to reveal a 720MHz TI OMAP3440, upgraded from the 600MHz TI OMAP 3430 chucking the earlier MILESTONE. However, not being a 1 GHz plus processor the performance grade does drop from time to time with a sluggish navigation or the need for a manual closure of applications during multi-tasking.

    The battery life was optimum living for more than a day with email and social networking sites constantly streaming in the messages and status updates. Nevertheless it is advisable to carry the charger on the go, may you find yourself faced with an embarrassing situation.

    Call quality was top-notch keeping both callers and the called parties with smiling faces. The phone incorporates CrystalTalk technology in the phone acting as a noise cancellation barrier for external noises. Similarly, the hands free impressed us with audio loud enough for a two-party conversation.

    Value for Money (8/10)

    The Motorola MILESTONE XT720 had inched closer to perfection if not for its sluggish navigation. The market is brimming with similar smartphones available with a Froyo version of Android. Whilst the XT720 gets past many of its functions with good scores, it fails to topple smartphones like Apple iPhone 4. We would advise to give a little exercise to your brain and think seriously about the HTC Desire and Apple iPhone 4 before handing out the plastic money.

    Pros

    • Gifted 8-megapixel camera with Xenon flash
    • 720p video recording with HDMI output
    • Great screen size and design
    • Improved battery life compared to original MILESTONE
    • Motorola CrystalTalk technology (noise-cancellation)
    • magnifying glass cursor control

    Cons

    • Average camera
    • Comparably not as tough as its competitors
    • No 3.5 mm jack
    • No 3G
    • Poor quality video
    • USB cable missing in the box

    Kyles Humphreys writes about the latest smart phones that are released on the market and gives in-depth reviews once he receives the products from the manufacturers, click to find out more about the Blackberry Torch 9800

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    Review of the Sony Ericsson Zylo

    November 26th, 2010 1,687 Comments

    SONY ERICSSON ZYLO W20i / BRAND NEW UNLOCKED INTERNATIONAL GSM PHONE (SILVER OR BLACK)

    Look, Design, Feel (7/10)

    Sony Ericsson has stopped caring about the design of their phones amidst most of them molded from the same cast. A slider phone with smoothed edges and curved back panel, the device is available in three shiny colours: Jazz Black, Chacha Silver, Swing Pink. Whilst the Black and Silver are adorable, the bright-in your face Swing Pink is mostly for teeny boppers. The handset structure is such that it gives you a good grip and the thick back feels nice to hold in your hand. Even the slide glides slickly from one end to another without any wobbling.

    The not so light Zylo at 115g when closed doesn’t throw any surprises. It allocates the Walkman logo its rightful place just below the screen. Below you discover the circular D-pad, 2.6-inch, 240 x 320 resolution screen, and call buttons on the either side. Right below on opposite sides of the D-pad you have two shortcut keys for multimedia apps and a cancel button.

    As you push back the screen, the alphanumeric keypad presents itself, assisted by keys that are large and comfortable to press. Expectedly, a dedicated music button is at hand on the right to get a quick snatch of the music player. It doubles up as a camera button; however usable only when the camera is switched on from the menu. The charging and headset jack is also on the right and what irritates us the most is its loyalty to the Sony master. There’s no 3.5mm jack and if you want another headphone, it would have to be another Sony Ericsson pair for sure.

    On the back side is the 3.2-megapixel camera covering up as a video recorder. Remove the back case and the regular SIM and microSD card (up to 16GB support) slot is to be seen.

    Features (7/10)

    Nothing’s changed much with the user interface of the Sony Ericsson Zylo. The only tweak has been the optional change to displace or replace the widgets on the home screen. Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Music Genie and Walk Mate are the options although social networking sites will get the most votes. As said earlier the media shortcut key gives access to various widgets and application by either pressing it left or down. It’s a nice of way of keeping up with the applications rather than go through the daily grind.

    The phone book stores upto 1000 contacts and 7000 numbers in a simple list and no knitting available with SNS sites. It might not offer the variety, but it offers the count that is optimum. The Zylo also supports push email and threaded messaging with attachments. As typing is a consequence of a traditional keypad, long emails is a forgettable experience.

    Talking about the camera, the 3.2-megapixel resolution is not bad to say the least. While this may be true, it fails to click acceptable images. As no flash exists, indoor photos also depend on existing light conditions. The video recorder is dependent on a VGA camera that surprisingly plays quality shoots compared to the images.

    Lastly, but of immense importance comes the music part. Zylo is a music phone and that’s what it should be bought for. It runs the latest Walkman version illustrated by its various themes allowing searching for artists, files, playlists and genres. It also makes available the accelerometer feature in the Media Centre along with traditional Sony features such as Clear Audio, MegaBass, TrackID, Stereo widening and Gesture control. Zylo truly stands up from other phones due to FLAC support capable of high quality audio listening. Sony provides headphone in the box, but if want a genuine Walkman experience it is recommended that you buy the latest and better ones available from Sony.

    Connectivity (7/10)

    Zylo is okey-dokey in the connectivity department. GPRS / EDGE and 3G are the two options supported whilst Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP and USB port play their part of PC connectivity. Wi-Fi is not available, but we are not moaning considering the phone’s price.

    Performance (7/10)

    The battery life is excellent and lasts quite a long time. However an ample use of the internet, and multimedia applications would topple the battery significantly.

    Call quality is not what we expected. Even at max volume we could not hear the voice from other side and in noisy environment, the situation can turn out to be embarrassing.

    From the looks it seems that Sony rooted the camera lens just for fun. A passable 3.2-megapixel resolution does no justice without flash and auto focus.

    Listening music is fully enjoyable on the Zylo with loads of features keeping you entertained. Even the audio quality is respectable and most of file formats are supported. For a music-centered device, the phone fulfills its role sincerely. Being a budget Walkman phone, we guess its price restrains itself from providing certain quality features.

    Value for Money (6/10)

    The Zylo is a mid-range device with enough of music and multimedia features packed in. Its unique FLAC music playback scores brownie points as does its messaging widgets like Facebook and Twitter. But the lack of USB cable and microSD card is a sin that is not to be forgotten. For a music device, the audio quality is good enough, but does not justify a dutiful Walkman phone. The spent is worth the price if it was targeted as a media directed device but for a Walkman we cringe from tilting our head in positive. There are superior ones at better prices to be grabbed.

    Pros

    • Bright and clear screen
    • Decent cost
    • Easy to set up email settings
    • Feels great to hold
    • FLAC support
    • Good media widgets
    • Threaded SMS conversations

    Cons

    • Bad camera
    • Misses on certain ‘have must’ Walkman features
    • No 3.5mm audio jack
    • No standard USB port
    • USB cable and microSD card not available in the box
    • Disappointing call quality

    Kyles Humphreys writes about the latest smart phones that are released on the market and gives in-depth reviews once he receives the products from the manufacturers, click to find out more about the Blackberry Torch 9800

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    Review of the Nokia 2710 Navigation Edition

    November 26th, 2010 1,578 Comments

    Look, Design, Feel (7/10)

    This 87g unit is a lightweight and stands at 111.2 x 45.7 x 13.7mm. It’s got more extra peripherals than most phones. The Nokia 2710 comes with its own suction-cup car holder and car charger, on top of the usual 3.5mm headphones, compact charger (no charging support), and USB-to-microUSB cable.

    Nokia 2710 has 3 color covers: black, silver and white silver. The phone is all plastic, which makes it handy and catches no fingerprints. The strong screen and keypad backlights are a refreshing take, as most modern smartphones have poor sunlight legibility. This one is good indoors and out.

    The top part of the unit is lined with 2 holes, for the headphones and charger. The lanyard eyelet is on the top corner. The left panel has the miscroUSB port and card slot, which can handle up to 16GB microSD cards. The right side has the lonesome camera key.

    The screen is quite small for a navigator. It measures 2.2″ and with no accelerometer, everything is on portrait mode, including maps. Below the screen are two soft slit keys, underneath them are the Call and End keys, and the D-pad in the middle. Right next to the D-pad is rectangular key with a plus sign Maps button. Below is the standard keypad with 12 buttons.

    The 2MP camera and loudspeaker can be found at the back side of Nokia 2710. The no frills camera bares no flash, but it looks sleek with a bordered metallic strip around it, extending to both ends of the back panel. The Li-Ion 1020 mAh battery, along with the SIM card slot underneath it, can be found upon removal of the battery cover. This design is reminiscent of the old Nokia models, long before the touchscreens and smartphones.

    Features (7/10)

    Nokia 2710 Navi runs on an S40 6th edition UI. The homescreen or standby screen can utilize pre-installed wallpapers for some background decor. User interface settings consist of rearrangement of the icons into smaller sizes, or aligning them in rows. For all the simplicity, it’s perfect for a no fuss phone focused on its best feature, navigation.

    The phonebook can pack 2000 contacts, and it makes use of its navigating functions. Contacts’ addresses can be determined via Ovi Maps. Users can save favourite locations, which can be exported or sent through MMS.

    One cool feature of the Nokia 2710 is that there’s no need to exit the navigation app when the user makes a call or SMS. The lack of a document viewer may pose as a problem for some. This reduces multi-tasking opportunities for the phone. The basics are pretty much covered, like the clock, and the organizer cluster of the calculator, alarm clock, notes, stopwatch, and converter, among others.

    Nokia 2710 can send SMS, MMS, and emails. The email client supports SSL and works with POP3, SMTP, and IMAP4 protocols. Though a conservative type of 12-button keypad is the only option for messaging, it will definitely click well for trained single or double-thumb texters, still popular across all demographics.

    No one should expect much from a 2MP camera phone. The shots are suitable only for some reference photos or if there’s no decent camera around. It’s not good for budding amateur photographers. The phone gallery presents a simple browsing process. A grid of the most recent 12 photos can be viewed one at a time, with an option for portrait or landscape viewing.

    The music player is fully functional, with all the basic needs to play your tunes. Song browsing is set according to artist, album, and genre. The downside is that there are no hardware volume keys. To adjust the volume, the user must be in the music player app and alter it there. The radio serves frequency-detected FM stations. RDS support is onboard. Users can select available stations in the area and save them.

    Forget about the video player. It can only manage 3GP and MP4 formats. The small screen makes it difficult to enjoy watching any streaming. On the bright side, the browser of choice for the Nokia 2710 is the Opera Mini 4.2. It packs an image compressor which speeds up the time on loading and saves data charges.

    Limited games are pre-installed on the Nokia 2710, but these are far less boring than the usual game packages. The Rally 3D, Sudoku and Block’d games are quite unique and entertaining enough to pass the time.

    The special Ovi Store is integrated in the phone. Users can choose a selected app or category, with designated prices and ratings. These apps range from entertainment, to games, to video content, among others. Ovi Share allows user to share own images, videos or audio files.

    Connectivity (6/10)

    Nokia 2710 Navi can connect through Bluetooth, and offers quad-band GSM/EDGE connection. The star element of the phone remains to be the built-in GPS receiver navigation. An added attribute is the digital compass which allows map auto-rotation. It needs to be calibrated first, which involves turning the phone around until it finds its bearings. Although the compass needs to pass through this process, over and over, each time it’s used, it’s still cool and unique, and can be useful too.

    Performance (8/10)

    Loud and crisp sound and signal reception give props to Nokia 2710. No problems with calls and audio clarity. The loudspeaker proves to be decent. However, try not to lay it down face up, as the loudspeaker at the back will give a bit of a muffled sound.

    The unit’s vibration (if set to vibrate) is also strong. Audio, in terms of playing music, is just right when using the headphones.

    Battery life is efficient. After a full charge, it remains full even after 2 days of use.

    Value for Money (7/10)

    The cost for the Nokia 2710 Navi Edition is priced fairly. It’s certainly much cheaper than getting a full-pledged SatNav for your car. For the same cost, more advanced and high-ended phones are priced at the same range, but the Navi sells a diverse concept other than the usual camera phone or web surfing phone. It’s a telephony and navigator, which gives it special credit. Especially, if only to try, the digital compass.

    Pros

    • GPS Navigator feature
    • Digital compass
    • Good web browser
    • Efficient battery life
    • Clear audio/sound system
    • Integrated Ovi system

    Cons

    • Low 2MP camera
    • QVGA video recording at 15fps only
    • Too small screen for maps or video streaming
    • No accelerometer
    • No WiFi
    • No document viewer

    Kyles Humphreys writes about the latest smart phones that are released on the market and gives in-depth reviews once he receives the products from the manufacturers, click to find out more about the Blackberry Torch 9800

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