Windows Phone 7's See Through

As the smart phone wars is heating up, Microsoft had also answered to the call with Windows Phone 7. It  is Microsoft’s answer to compete with Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS mobile platforms. It is a mobile OS developed by Microsoft, and is the descendant  to the Windows Mobile platform.

WP7 offers a new user interface, integrates the operating system with other services, and plans to strictly control the hardware it runs on. According to Steve Ballmer , CEO at Microsoft, through WP7, Microsoft and partners “are delivering a different kind of mobile phone and experience — one that makes everyday tasks faster by getting more done in fewer steps and providing timely information in a ‘glance and go’ format.”

Phone 7 is a complete overhaul of Windows Mobile, which currently has a very small market share of 5 per cent as compared to that of Nokia/ Symbian that dominates at 41%, and of  RIM/BlackBerry which holds at 18%.

Features

The UI design which is organized around “Hubs” maybe is the most vital advancement  of WP7. These so-called hubs are divided into several divisions: the People (with integrated contacts, phone and text messaging, and social networking), Pictures (photos on phone, and also on Windows Live, Office (OneNote, Word and Excel Documents, SharePoint), Music/Video (Microsoft’s Zune and subscription service ZunePass, iHeartRadio, and Slacker Radio), Games (multiplayer gaming with Xbox Live).

Applications

Microsoft’s goal is in response to the increasing number of apps that are now being developed, is that it wants to “work with our partners so their apps have elegant coexistence with what’s already on the device.” By this, Microsoft had adopted a hybrid technique to fully utilize the OS and other apps. That is, they have specified standards for their hardware partners to meet in order to carry WP7.

Syncing from the phone to the desktop through WindowsPhone.com, tight integration with Windows Live’s cloud-based office, data storage, contacts/calendar, e-mail/instant messaging, file-sharing and media-management services, as well as gaming downloads and social networking through Xbox Live is very possible because of the complementary design of the WP7 to the Windows system.

Dilemma

With the features and applications that are now in WP7, we can see that what is quite outstanding is the ‘integrated social networking features, together with the competitive games and the Office system  which are very opposite.

Its now up to you to choose, whether you choose to play, or spend time in the office during holidays.

Samsung B2100: Tough and Rugged

Having a low – end phone that is serviceable anytime of the day is much more reliable than any other new technology phone manufacturers are competing with nowadays. Rugged and tough as it is, Samsung Solid Extreme B2100 is only one of the few phones out there that could defy all the physical punishment and pressure that you would give to it. 

Samsung Solid Extreme B2100

On the specs, the B2100, doesn't have the latest technology, but is wrapped in endurance certificates (that is, European IP57 certification and the US Military Standard 810F (MIL-STD-810F). It can also be submerged in water if you feel like taking a call while on the pool for 30 minutes.

 

It does its job, for calling, and sending messages. You could also share files, which is made possible by a memory card slot, and Stereo Bluetooth A2DP support and download your favorite music or photos from the 1.3 mega pixel camera.

 

The most important factor for me is its sturdy build, both of the unit and the lock mechanism of the battery cover. However, if you have more adventures - extreme ones, that is, expect that it will not leave you hanging.

HTC Desire HD: The New Kid on the Block

HTC's top end droid is finally breaking the ground: the Desire HD, and it has exceeded performance benchmarks. It is complete with a huge cinematic touch screen of 4.3 - inch, Dolby Mobile and SRS virtual sound, intended to wow the techie in you.

It features include the latest Sense UI with HTC-sense.com, an experience created around gainful ideas.

Another is that its maps is quite responsive  - no waiting needed, and no dead spots, and will accurately tell you the exact location where you are.

Also, what is amazing for this Android is that you can locate it by just logging online. On the other hand, you can have it remotely locked if you believe that it has been lost or stolen.

As part of its important features, reading and browsing has been made easy. Zooming in on a page won’t make it difficult to read since the text changes and reflows to fit the screen, making it easier to read.

And for the technophobic, no more worries. It is made to make life easier. No need to fumble for your glasses and see who has called or sent you a message.

However, one has to consider this before buying. Battery life is quite limited: only 1230mAH.

Anyway, here are some specs you need to know before grabbing the bait.

General:     Available in 2G, 3G Network
Size:         123 x 68 x 11.8 mm, weighs 164 g

Display:     S-LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors; 480 x 800 pixels, 4.3 inches;  HTC  

      Sense UI; Multi-touch input method

Memory:     Phonebook: Practically unlimited entries and fields, Photocall
                   Internal: 1.5 GB; 768 MB RAM
                   Card Slot: microSD, up to 32GB

Sound:       3.5 mm audio jack, Dolby Mobile and SRS sound enhancement

Data:         GPRS, EDGE, 3G, WLAN, Bluetooth, USB

Camera:    8 MP, 3264x2448 pixels, autofocus, dual-LED flash, 8 MP, 3264x2448 pixels,

autofocus, dual-LED flash

Battery:     Standard battery, Li-Ion 1230 mAh; uo to Up to 9 h 15 min (2G) / Up to 5 h 30 min

(3G) talk time

Nokia X6: Working Its Way Up

 Owning a smart phone was never in my must -have list earlier this year, nor I had dreamed of owning one. It was only by luck that in an event I have attended, together with a few workmates an event by one of our company suppliers, that I won by chance the Nokia X6 around February of this year.

The Nokia X6

More than seven months had passed and my lucky phone is working: good as new. Unlike any other techie people, all I want from my phone is just a call and text feature where basically anybody can reach me. However, X6 had changed my mind that its not call-and-text is simply not enough.

With its gigantic memory capacity, I had already stored around 300 songs and high - resolution photos and videos. In addition, with my hectic schedule, I am now able to check out emails even when on the road. Now that's really some big improvement for me.

According to reviews, the phone is Nokia's step to make up for a late start in touch screen smart phones. The Symbian S60 is the fourth edition has had difficulty to catch up with the latest trend setter in the high end market. 

Features:

• Quad band GSM support
• Tri-band 3G with HSDPA support 
• 3.2" 16M color LCD capacitative screen (360x640 pix)
• Symbian S60 5th edition 
• Built-in GPS receiver
• 5 megapixels autofocus camera with dual LED flash
• 32 GB built- in storage
• Connectivity: Bluetooth and USB (standard microUSB connector)
• very good audio quality; stereo speakers
• FM radio with RDS
• comes with "Music edition"

Disadvantages:

• It is expensive. 
• Touch wen browser is not fully polished. 
• No Office document viewer that is installed in the unit. Opening office files attached in email is still quite difficult. 
• MicroUSB card slot is not available. 

Altek Leo: Invade Europe Soon

Camera phone lovers,  this is for you.

14MP Altek Leo

Taiwanese designer and manufacturer of digital cameras, Altek has announced the release of its first ever smart phone, Leo,  to be out in the market by the first quarter of 2011 in Europe. 

The Leo, according to Altek, uses a touch screen display and delivers a 3.5G functionality. Most of all, it brags the first 14MP camera with a 3x optical zoom and HD video recording - the foremost camera phone to ever have such feature.

      It is also equipped witn a xenon flash and LED video light which makes this

mobile phone unit a t substitute in favor of your digital cameras.

The 'Leo mobile phone' runs on Android 2.1(Eclair) and comes with a 3.2- inch WVGA disply. The unit's connectivity are by the built - in Wi-Fi, bluetooth, 2 GPS and as well as a full range of data transfer options via GSM, GPRS, EDGE and 3G with HSPA.

The extras that completes the Leo are its built - in accelerometer, digital compass and a slot for the microSD card for external memory.