Friday, June 26, 2009

Nokia N86 8MP Smartphone Reviewed

nokia n86 8mp smartphone

The N86 8MP is the Nokia’s newest offering in the N8 smartphone series.

Features:

  • 2.6-inch 240x320 OLED display
  • 8 megapixel autofocus camera with 28mm wide-angle lens, dual-LED flash, and AF assist light
  • Symbian OS 9.3 operating system
  • ARM 11 434 MHz CPU, 128MB RAM
  • Quad-band GSM / 3G with HSDPA 3.6Mbps
  • Wi-Fi with UPnP technology
  • Built-in GPS with A-GPS functionality
  • Dual slide design with dedicated gaming/audio/gallery keys
  • microSD card slot with microSDHC support
  • 8GB internal storage
  • Built-in accelerometer
  • Stereo FM Radio with RDS, FM transmitter
  • Standard microUSB port
  • stereo Bluetooth v2.0
  • Digital compass
  • Dimensions: 103.4 x 51.4 x 16.5 mm
  • Weight: 149 g

 

“… Great all-round performance is what you can expect in one of the most-complete smartphones on the market. A cameraphone, an N-gage gaming phone, a dual slider with a kickstand, a true Symbian all-in-one. … Nokia have got the hardware right however and the image processing is hopefully fixable through a firmware update. How the first Nokia 8 megapixel cameraphone fares against the competition is probably a short-term strategy. The important thing in the long run is the Nseries is done catching up and is ready and willing to discover. ” [GSM Arena | Nokia N86 8MP]

One can say that the N86 is an N85 with a better and cooler camera. If you’ve been wanting to buy an N85 but held off, the N86 won’t disappoint.

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Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Apple iPhone 3G S Reviewed

apple iphone 3g s

The much anticipated iPhone 3G S (starts at US$199, plus subscription plan) is Apple’s third generation smartphone.

Features:

  • 3G network: UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz)
  • 2G network: GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
  • 3.5-inch 480x320 widescreen Multi-touch display
  • 3 megapixel camera
  • Video recording, VGA up to 30 fps with audio
  • Photo and video geotagging
  • 16GB or 32GB Flash Drive
  • 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi
  • Assisted GPS
  • Digital Compass
  • Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
  • Audio formats: AAC, Protected AAC, MP3, MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
  • Colors: black, white
  • Dimensions: 115.5 x 62.1 x 12.3 mm
  • Weight: 135 grams

Gizmodo was a bit bored with the new iPhone, but still considers it the best:

“Like I said in the Palm Pre review, I'm a bit bored of the iPhone look and feel. If you're looking for something new, something different and something you're not quite familiar with, there's the Pre or the MyTouch 3G. But as a whole, the iPhone 3GS is the best all-around smartphone available. If you're looking for a refined, augmented version of what you already know, a phone that, not for nothing, runs all the tens of thousands of apps on the App Store, choose the iPhone 3GS.” [Gizmodo | iPhone 3GS]

InfoSync World gave it an 86% (“Very Good”) score:

“If you're already in love with your iPhone and you have a few hundred bucks to spend, the Apple iPhone 3GS is a no-brainer. … With the Apple iPhone 3GS, Apple seems to be shoring up its borders, and not branching out into new spaces. Popular business features like e-mail and productivity apps have been left behind, or left to third parties, while there seems to be no relief in sight for users who want more buttons or, gasp, an actual keyboard. Still, there's no denying the appeal of the iPhone, and if you thought the older model was the best, with the Apple iPhone 3GS, the best just got even better.” [InfoSync World | iPhone 3GS]

Register Hardware gave it an 80% rating:

“If you don’t already own an iPhone then the iPhone 3G S might well be the model that finally wears down your resistance. The lack of a camera zoom is a glaring omission, but the iPhone’s great strength remains the sheer variety of features and software that it offers, and which make it vastly more versatile than most of its rivals.” [RegHardware | Apple iPhone 3G S]

Looking to get a new smartphone? The iPhone 3GS should be on your short list.

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Saturday, June 20, 2009

iPhone 3.0 Jailbreak Released

apple iphone os 3.0

Currently for Mac OS X only, users can now the Pwnage Tool to jailbreak their iPhones. QuickPwn for Windows and Mac OS X will follow sometime soon.

Notes:

  • GOLDEN RULE: If you are using a 3G iPhone with yellowsn0w and rely on yellowsn0w to obtain cellular service, then you should NOT use PwnageTool right now. UltraSn0w is not included with this release and therefore your baseband will be locked and unable to use an operator other than the official one it was bought for. UltraSn0w will be release via APT (cydia and icy) soon. If you have an original iPhone (1st generation) then 3.0 unlock works with this PwnageTool release.
  • Yellowsn0w in its current form will NOT work with the baseband version that is present in the 3.0 update, you will need Ultrasn0w, which will be released sometime soon, Ultrasn0w will work with all iPhone 3G models (but not 3GS), even ones that were previously unlockable, Ultrasn0w (when available) will be released via APT (this means you can get it via Cydia or Icy).
  • Please read all parts of this post before downloading and using these tools.
  • Read items 1, 2 and 3 again and again.
  • At the bottom of this post are the bittorrent files for the 3.0 capable version of PwnageTool.
  • This app is suitable for the recent 3.0 release.
  • PwnageTool will NOT work for the iPhone 3GS.
  • PwnageTool WILL work for Original iPhone (1st Generation), Original iPod touch (1st Generation) and the iPhone 3G.

Read more at the Dev-Team Blog website >>

Palm webOS Update 1.0.3 Released

palm pre with webos

Palm recently released update 1.0.3 for webOS. This is particular for the Palm Pre from Sprint.

Changes:

  • Calendar
    • Events created in your Google calendar—either in Calendar on your phone or in Google online—that contain a symbol or accented character in the event name can now synchronize. Previously, including a symbol or accented character in an event name prevented the event from synchronizing.
    • Changes made to Google events on the phone now sync with Google online within a few minutes.
    • The sync interval for Google events has been decreased from every few hours to every 15 minutes.
  • Clock
    • Changes made to Google contacts on the phone now sync with Google online within a few minutes.
    • The sync interval for Google contacts has been decreased from every few hours to every 15 minutes.
  • Email
    • Power performance in areas where wireless coverage is sporadic or unavailable has been enhanced.
    • Non-SSL Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) mail servers are now supported.
  • Other
    • Miscellaneous updates for Email, Phone, and other applications.

Read more at the Palm website >>

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Wednesday, June 17, 2009

PSP Custom Firmware 5.50 GEN-A Build 4 Released

sony psp

PSP Custom Firmware 5.50 GEN-A Build 4 for Sony PSP-1000 (Fat) and PSP-2000 (Slim) is now available.

Features:

  • All features of Sony’s Official Firmware 5.50
  • Launch UMDs / ISOs / CSOs and demos requiring 5.50 or below
  • Launch homebrew
  • Launch PSOne (POPs) games
  • Access to recovery mode (change CPU speed, enable/disable plugins, registry hacks, flash access, etc…)

What is needed:

  • A PSP-1000 or 2000 v1 or v2
  • A PSP running CFW 3.52 M33 or higher

NOTE: DO NOT attempt to flash or install CFW 5.50 GEN-A on a PSP-3000 or TA-088v3 hand-held. You will render your PSP a useless brick.

Read more at PSP-Hacks.com >>

Download PSP Custom Firmware 5.50 GEN-A Build 4 at PSP-Hacks.com >>

Palm webOS System Update Explained

palm pre

Palm detailed how system updates work on their new operating system, Palm webOS.

The Palm Pre automatically checks for system updates every 7 days. Manual checking of update availability can be done by opening “Updates”. When an update is available, it is downloaded in the background (no user intervention needed) whenever a Wi-Fi connection is established.

“Palm provides system updates wirelessly to webOS phones. These updates are released periodically and are intended to increase stability, improve the user experience, and in some cases add functionality to the phone. Software updates cannot be downloaded on a 1xRTT connection because it would block incoming phone calls. You need to be in an EVDO network coverage area or connect the device to a Wi-Fi network. System updates are intended to be automatically installed. In order for this to happen, your phone's battery must have a 30% (or higher) charge. We recommend that you charge your battery frequently as this also improves battery life. Never remove your battery during an update as it may permanently damage your phone. There are several steps to a system update, but almost all of them are performed automatically.” [Palm]

While a system update is being installed, you will not be able to use any part of your phone, and all wireless services are disabled. A system update usually takes about 10 minutes. After 15 minutes, your phone will shut down. Never remove the battery while an update is being installed as this may permanently damage your phone.

Read more at the Palm website >>

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Friday, June 12, 2009

Apple iPhone 3G S Hardware Revealed

apple iphone 3gs

The Apple iPhone 3G S (US$199, plus subscription plan) is the successor to the previous iPhone 3G. It is tagged as the “fastest, most powerful iPhone yet”.

Features:

  • 2G network: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
  • 3G network: HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100
  • 3.15 megapixel camera, 2048x1536 pixels, autofocus
  • Processor: ARM Cortex A8 600 MHz, PowerVR SGX graphics
  • 3.5-inch, 320x480 TFT capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
  • Multi-touch input method
  • Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate
  • Proximity sensor for auto turn-off
  • Scratch-resistant surface
  • Ambient light sensor
  • 16 GB/ 32 GB storage, 256 MB RAM
  • Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
  • Bluetooth v2.1
  • USB 2.0 connectivity
  • iPhone OS (based on Mac OS)
  • Built-in GPS, with A-GPS support
  • Digital compass
  • Google Maps
  • Audio/video player
  • TV-out
  • Voice command/dial
  • Dimensions: 115.5 x 62.1 x 12.3 mm
  • Weight: 135 g

AnandTech has got the skinny on the iPhone 3G S hardware:

“… the Palm Pre uses a similar combination of hardware to what I expect from the iPhone 3GS. TI’s OMAP 3430 combines a Cortex A8 CPU core with a PowerVR SGX 530 GPU. The difference is that while the Pre uses its excess horsepower to enable user-level application multitasking, Apple won’t be. The Pre is most definitely faster than the iPhone, but it still has some rough edges. Combine the power of the Pre with the highly optimized software stack of the iPhone and you’ve got the recipe of an extremely fast iPhone. … The iPhone 3GS may be a mild upgrade from a consumer perspective, but what it's going to enable is far from it…” [AnandTech | The iPhone 3GS Hardware Exposed & Analyzed]

Yes, Dorothy, it does have new hardware. ;)

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Sunday, June 7, 2009

Palm Pre Disassembly Guide

palm pre parts

(Picture courtesy of RapidRepair.com)

RapidRepair.com has a complete take-apart repair guide for the Palm Pre:

“Welcome to the RapidRepair Palm Pre take-apart repair guide. Here we show (in nearly sickening detail) the internals of the new Palm Pre and how to safely reach them in a few easy steps. Be sure to check our repair tools page for easy to use toolkits for replacing screens, batteries and more on your Palm Pre.” [RapidRepair.com | Palm Pre Repair Guide]

If you ever need to disassemble your Palm Pre, the guide gives you a step-by-step procedure of going about it.

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Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Palm Pre Reviewed

palm pre pda phone

The Palm Pre (US$200 plus plan) is the new smartphone from Palm.

Features:

  • Palm webOS operating system
  • 3G EVDO Rev A network
  • 3.1-inch touch screen 320x480 HVGA color display
  • physical QWERTY keyboard
  • built-in GPS
  • 3 megapixel camera with LED flash
  • ambient light, accelerometer, and proximity sensors
  • Audio formats: MP3, AAC, AAC+, AMR, QCELP, WAV
  • Video Formats: MPEG-4, H.263, H.264
  • Image Formats: GIF, JPEG, PNG, BMP
  • 802.11b/g Wi-Fi
  • Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR with A2DP stereo
  • 8GB memory, with USB mass storage support
  • MicroUSB connector
  • 3.5mm stereo headphone jack
  • Palm Touchstone charging dock
  • Dimensions: 59.5 x 100.5 x 16.96 mm
  • Weight: 135 grams

Is the Palm Pre and the new webOS software the current king of hill smartphone? Here are some feedback around the web:

“Once the initial Pre launch is over and done with and all the hype, smoke and mirrors are clear though, we can see Palm being pretty successful moving forward. Hell, Palm has converted tons of people into raging Pre fanboys before they could even see the phone in person! Very Apple-esque. More carriers will get the Pre, more handsets will be released and WebOS could very well keep things interesting even if the hardware is lacking.” [Boy Genius Report | Palm Pre Review Part 1]

“… webOS makes the iPhone look clunky, which is stunning in itself. It also thoroughly shows up Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Mobile. That operating system has had multitasking for years, but few users have appreciated that. Rather, Windows Mobile has been blamed for making phones clumsy and slow. Now, webOS comes along and does multitasking right. … Whether you get a Pre or not, its brilliant software will leave its mark on the phones you buy in the future, just like the iPhone did after its debut.” [Associated Press | Dazzling Palm software beats the iPhone]

“Despite some missing features and performance issues that make it less than ideal for on-the-go professionals, the Palm Pre offers gadget lovers and consumers well-integrated features and unparalled multitasking capabilities. The hardware could be better, but more importantly, Palm has developed a solid OS that not only rivals the competition but also sets a new standard in the way smartphones handle tasks and manage information.” [CNET | Palm Pre (Sprint)]

“That means even if you're one of the folks who likes the Pre's features a bit better than the iPhone's, you might have to do without some of the cooler mobile apps for a while. If that's OK with you, the Pre is a very good choice.” [CNN Money | To Pre or not to Pre?]

“To put it simply, the Pre is a great phone, and we don't feel any hesitation saying that. Is it a perfect phone? Hell no. Does its OS need work? Definitely. But are any of the detracting factors here big enough to not recommend it? Absolutely not. There's no doubt that there's room for improvement in webOS and its devices, but there's also an astounding amount of things that Palm nails out of the gate.” [engadget | Palm Pre review]

“The Palm Pre is an impressive device with a slick design and an even slicker user experience. It took me five minutes to learn how to use it, unlike the Sprint Instinct, which I almost threw into oncoming traffic. … With the Pre I saw a bunch of bugs: screens that held and didn't move, lag time for the screen to refresh after turning the phone on its side, and a weird incident where the right-side up screen stayed in landscape mode. … If Palm addresses these concerns soon, it may have a victory on its hands.” [Fox News | Palm Pre Is No iPhone Killer]

“The software is agile, smart and capable. The hardware, on the other hand, is a liability. If Palm can get someone else to design and build their hardware—someone who has hands and can feel what a phone is like when physically used, that phone might just be one of the best phones on the market.” [Gizmodo | Palm Pre Review]

“We’ve seen many smart phones come and go since the original iPhone, and the $199 Palm Pre is the first device we’ve tested whose user interface not only matches up well to Apple’s offering, but also beats it in some areas. The Pre isn’t just cool and fun to use; its highly integrated approach to calendars, contacts, and messaging, the way it elegantly multitasks, and makes apps and notifications accessible across the device change the game. … Nevertheless, Palm and Sprint have a hit on their hands with the Pre, and the webOS is a smart phone platform to be reckoned with.” [LaptopMag.com | Review of the Palm Pre]

Okay, so like the Android G1, the OS is great (or has great potential) but probably no “cigar” in the hardware department. Personally, I’ve been a Palm (or more appropriately, a Palm OS) fan for many years due to the easy-to-use platform and wide availability of apps. It’s simple, gets the job done, and has (or had) a large dev community. Sadly, the tech and consumer community has declared the Palm OS *already old* (no support for fancy sensors and gestures, etc.), thus the need for a new OS. It looks like the new webOS would not disappoint.

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Nokia N79 Reviewed

nokia n79

The Nokia N79 (US$350 Unlocked) is a refresh of the previous N78 mobile phone.

Features:

  • Candybar form factor
  • 2.4-inch 240x320 display
  • Symbian S60 platform
  • GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
  • 850/1900/2100 3.6 HSDPA
  • 5 megapixel camera
  • Bluetooth 2.0
  • 802.11 a/b/g WLAN
  • Dimensions: 4.3 x 1.93 x 0.59 inches
  • Weight: 3.42 ounces

InfoSync World gives the N79 a 79% rating:

“The Nokia N79 is a smaller, powerful Nseries device, and it fits neatly beneath the Nokia N85 in the lineup, even though the larger dual-slider can be found for less. Regardless, the candybar N79 won't win too many fans for its hodge podge design, but if the insides count more than the outside, the Nokia N79 shines from within with good call quality, robust Web browsing and good performance all around, especially in multimedia playback and GPS navigation.” [InfoSync World | Nokia N79]

Best features of the N79 are: Calling, Multimedia, Web Browsing, and GPS Navigation. If you already have an N85, maybe it’s better to stick with your present phone.

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Best Pick Netbooks 2009

msi wind atom

Looking for a new netbook (a small portable laptop computer designed for wireless communication and access to the Internet.)? LifeHacker.com gives their shortlist of netbooks:

The Samsung NC10, Dell Mini 10, Asus EeePC 1000HE, Acer Aspire One, and MSI Wind. [LifeHacker | Five Best Netbooks]

Maybe you would like to have a Mac OS X netbook as well? The shortlist is as follows:

MSI Wind, Lenovo S10, Dell Mini 9, or HP Mini 1000 [BoingBoing | Mac OS X Netbook Compatibility Chart]

If we would be basing our purchasing decision on the two abovementioned articles, the winner would be the MSI Wind, but popularity seems to be on the EeePC 1000HE’s side. If you’re not planning to create a Hackintosh portable, any of the LifeHacker shortlist is a good pick. Your choice…

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