Micromax Funbook P600 7-Inch Tablet Announced

Micromax added a new 7-inch tablet device Micromax Funbook P600 to its Funbook tablet lineup recently. It has nearly similar feature that we saw earlier in Micromax Funbook Talk P350 that launched last year. However, the Android powered Micromax Funbook P600 is more powerful than Micromax Funbook Talk P350 in hardware segment.

Micromax Funbook P600 7-Inch Tablet

The Micromax Funbook P600 is yet another affordable tablet from Micromax and as you can expect from a low price tablet, the Funbook P600 is powered by Android 4.0.4 ICS. It has a 7-inch capacitive touch screen display, however there is no details about screen resolution support yet. The tablet equipped with a 1 GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8225A processor that can run everything smoothly. The processor boost by added 512MB RAM.

I9300XXUFMB3 – Galaxy S III Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean LEAKED firmware

We of SamMobile would like to give you the latest I9300XXUFMB3 – Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean test firmware for the Galaxy S III. Big Thanks to forum member Saturn from XDA-Developers who made this possible by giving us the dump files from his device.

Android 4.2.1 is still under testing phase by Samsung and they will release the official final Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean update for the Galaxy S III after the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S IV. We wanted to give Samsung’s hardcore fans a sneak preview of what Samsung is up to in their dev center.

New enhancements in I9300XXUFMB3 FW:
- Android 4.2.1 – JOP40D
- Improved Ripple effect on Lockscreen
- New Android 4.2.1 Lockscreen with widgets
- Daydream (Settings>Display)
- New Additions in Notification Center
- Notifications are more actionable
- Voice Command (Let’s you control various parts of the phone using voice commands)
- Found more? Tell us about them in the comments below!

WARNINGS:

We have repackaged this firmware into an ODIN Flashable firmware ourselves from the dump files we took from Saturn’s device. This firmware will increase your binary counter, if you don’t know what this means then don’t flash this firmware. This Firmware will also change your device status to Modified. This firmware doesn’t contain any Modem so the Modem you are using before flashing this firmware will remain. This is a PRE-RELEASE version so not official from KIES. As this is a PRE-RELEASE firmware some minor bugs are to expect.

We have FULLY TESTED this firmware and this firmware works perfectly as any other official firmware.
Firmware Details
Android Version: 4.2.1 – JOP40D (Jelly Bean)
PDA: I9300XXUFMB3
CSC: I9300OJKFMB3
MODEM: N/A
Region: Middle East
Carrier: Unbranded
Changelist: 171637
Build Date: 19th February 2013
Download: I9300XXUFMB3_I9300OJKFMB3_ILO.zip
Flashing Instructions:
- Unzip the file
- Open Odin 3.04 (already included in the firmware package)
- Restart phone in download mode (Press and hold Home + Power + Volume down buttons)
- Connect phone and wait until you get a blue sign in Odin
- Add I9300XXUFMB3_I9300OJKFMB3_HOME.tar.md5 to PDA
- Make sure re-partition is NOT ticked
- Start flash, sit back and wait a few minutes.
- If you encounter any issues with the firmware (Any FC, Bootloop etc)
- Boot into recovery mode (Home+power+vol up)
- Choose to wipe/factory reset. (THIS WILL ERASE ALL OF YOUR DATA INCLUDING YOUR INTERNAL SD CARD!)
- Then choose reboot and you should be good to go!

Disgo 9000 Android tablet review

Price: £150

Tablets are like most objects of desire -- you can pay a lot for them, or you can get them relatively cheap, but ultimately you get what you pay for. But is that the case with the Disgo 9000, the latest budget tablet from the one-time flash memory manufacturer?

It's on sale now for around £150.

Design

It's about £30 cheaper than the flagship 9104 and shares a few of its features, not least the 9.7-inch screen that delivers 1,024x768 pixel resolution, which equates to 131 pixels-per-inch. It's HD, just about, but doesn't look quite as sharp as some of its rivals, though it's sensitive enough not to need much pressing and poking.

It doesn't have the same £100 software package as the 9104, so there's no preloaded Office Suite or games, but the main compromise has been made with the processor.

Features and performance

While the single core 1GHz processor (down from the 9104's 1.2GHz) is backed by a full 1GB of RAM, it's noticeably lacking in the speed department. Starting up from sleep mode takes a few seconds and it never seems to be in a rush to open any apps.

Processing speed isn't an area we felt the 9104 could afford to lose much ground on, but the 9000 slows things down still further. Our AnTuTu benchmark test delivered a result of 3,026, which puts it in line with low- to mid-range smartphones, not full-size tablets.

It's running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich so it's not quite the full Jelly Bean, but it's close. Like previous Disgo models, there's no Google Play when you first switch it on. Licensing issues mean that's it's not officially allowed to carry it, though there are a few thousand apps available from Disgo Apps, the SlideMe Market and the Amazon AppStore.

There is a workaround from wildestpixel.co.uk however, where you can sideload a program from your computer that gets you access to Google Play. We tried it and it worked without a hitch -- worth considering if you're suffering from app envy.

Extras are of course not of the first water. The two-megapixel camera barely passes muster for emergency snaps -- it would have been more useful on the front for video calls rather than the grainy 0.3-megapixel camera Disgo actually used.

There's 8GB of memory on board (half what you get with the 9104) but you can add another 32GB via microSD card, which is something you still don't get on many tablets.

Conclusion The Disgo 900 is far from the top of the range, and is a disappointment in terms of performance with its underpowered processor. However, the screen's not bad and it's built pretty solidly, so as a low-cost family tool or additional computer, it might just be worth the few shekels. But considering the Nexus 7 from Asus is around the same price, delivering a superior screen and much, much faster performance, it's not quite the bargain it first appears.

Specifications

• Software : Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich
• Processor : Single core 1.0GHz Cortex A8
• Memory slot : Yes
• Display : 9.7in, 1024x768 pixels
• Connectivity : Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth
• Ports : Mini USB power/sync, 3.5mm headphone jack, HDMI
• Camera : 2 megapixel camera, 0.3 megapixel front-facingcamera
• Radio : No
• Battery : Lithium Ion 7000mAh
• Size : 194x127x11mm
• Weight : 310g

Lenovo ThinkPad Twist S230u review

Price: £1,060

Hybrid tablets try to bridge the gap between the convenience of a tablet and the capability of a laptop, and they've been becoming more popular since the arrival of touchscreen-optimised Windows 8. The Lenovo ThinkPad Twist doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it makes it turn rather well…

The Lenovo ThinkPad Twist is on sale now from £850 for the basic Intel Core i5 model with 500GB hard drive, rising to our £1,060 test model, which features an i7 processor and 128GB SSD drive.

Design
Let's get one thing straight, the ThinkPad Twist is essentially an ultrabook, but with one cool party trick. At 1.5kg it's a fair weight for a ultrabook, but as a tablet it'll soon start to wear you down.

The design and colour scheme, with its flashes of bright red on rubberised black plastic, with a chrome band running around the tablet part, doesn't give the impression of an upmarket device -- it's more Fisher Price than cutting edge. Fortunately the keyboard feels better than it looks, with nicely springy keys whose slightly concave shape invites your fingers to caress them, and responds with a good level of travel and responsiveness.

The bright red Trackpoint button in the middle seems a bit superfluous, with its accompanying red-striped mouse buttons, especially since there's a perfectly good trackpad beneath it.

Features and performance

The 12.5-inch touchdisplay sits behind protective Gorilla Glass and delivers a resolution of 1,366x768, not the full HD shilling perhaps, but not bad at all. Full-fat 64-bit Windows 8 looks good and the screen feels sensitive enough to make using it a breeze. Above it sits a webcam that can handle 720p video -- perfectly fine for Skyping.

So far so laptop, but the Twist does have one pretty good party trick up its sleeve: the screen is mounted on a single hinge, which itself is mounted on a little rotating plate. Simply spin the display around and lay it flat and hey presto, you've got yourself a rather heavy tablet with a display that shifts its orientation to match whatever way you're holding it.

You can also arrange it in "tent" mode, so it stands like an upturned V for viewing movies -- press a button on the side and the display will automatically reorientate to suit.

The 1.7GHz dual-core processor is backed by 8GB RAM and does a decent enough job of the performance chores. Ours came with a 128GB solid state drive though you can also get it with a slower 500GB hard drive and i5 processor for a couple of hundred quid less.

In benchmarking tests it delivered a PC Mark of 4,542 and during play of Portal it regularly managed frame rates around the 180fps mark, which is okay, but not outstanding. It encoded our test 11-minute move for iTunes in two minutes and 33 seconds, which again isn't bad, but not among the best.

Conclusion

The ThinkPad Twist ditches the usual ultrabook style in favour of robust practicality. The screen resolution may be so-so but there are no complaints about its sensitivity and the responsive keyboard feels great too. The twist option is a tried and tested form factor for switching between laptop and tablet and works perfectly fine, as well as giving the impression that it can keep doing so for years to come.

It's not a bargain, and its weight means you're unlikely to carry it around as a tablet for long, but if you're in the market for a few-frills, do-everything, portable computer, it's certainly worth a look. 

Specifications

• Software : Windows 8 64-bit
• Processor : 1.7Ghz dual-core Intel Core i7-3517U
• Memory : 8GB 1333MHz DDR3 RAM
• Display : 12.5in 1,366x768 pixels
• Hard Drive : 128GB SSD
• Graphics : Intel HD Graphics 4000
• Webcam : 720p HD
• Wireless : Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, wireless LAN, Bluetooth 4.0
• Ports : RJ-45 (Ethernet), 2x USB 3.0, 1x HDMI, 1x Display Port, 1xKensington Lock, headphone/microphone jack, power connector,multi-card
• : reader, mini-card adapter
• Blu-ray player : No
• Size : 313x236x20mm
• Weight : 1.5kg

Acer Iconia W510 review

Price: £500

Acer's Iconia W510 works just fine as a standalone Windows 8 tablet, but comes with a slimline keyboard with secure docking system for those times when you need a bit more -- and that's where the problems start.

It's on sale now for around £500.

Design

It's a good-looking piece of work, with its silvery aluminium livery (not real though, it's plastic, which helps keep the weight down) and neatly curving edges. The tablet weighs a perfectly acceptable 570g on its own (well below the lightest iPad 2's 652g) and it's got a pretty good line-up of connections, including micro USB (there's a full-size one on the accompanying keyboard), micro HDMI, microSD memory card slot and 3.5mm headphone jack. There's also an eight-megapixel camera with LED flash on the back and a two-megapixel version on the front for video calls -- both can record 1080p video.

The 10.1-inch "CineCrystal" display is protected by Gorilla Glass and offers a not-quite-full-HD resolution of 1,366x768 pixels, around 157 pixels-per-inch, which still looks decently sharp and detailed. It supports five-point touch rather than the ten-point which is becoming increasingly common -- a problem for piano apps perhaps, but not too much of an issue in general use.

The accompanying keyboard is extremely slim too, or at least it would be if it wasn't for the chunky dock that twists to accommodate the tablet. It looks a bit like a Mothercare accessory but at least it's practical -- the dock clips in neatly and feels very secure, whatever angle you set it to, with a release switch for when you need to cut it loose.

The problem is that the tablet doesn't balance well with the keyboard, so it tends to keel over all too easily if you have it set up on a table or desktop. The keys are a little on the small side, and the touchpad buttons are marked by a thin line, but they're so slim that it's easy to miss them, leading to the cursor wandering off at regular opportunities.

Features and performance

It's running the full-fat Windows 8 so you can add pretty much any software you like, without having to rely on the app store. As we've said elsewhere there's a bit of a learning curve involved with the touch-centric Windows 8 interface ( no Start button, unfamiliar menus), but once you get the hang of swiping to access functions and menus it's a pretty good interface.

That's not a problem, but the 1.5GHz dual core processor is. On paper, it should be a perfectly fine workhorse, but in practice we found it unforgivably slow in operation. Loading programs seemed to take forever, even browsing was an unattractively sedate experience. In benchmarking tests it struggled to get a PC Mark of 1,439 -- which makes it the lowest ranking tablet we've ever tested. In actual performance terms, it did no better, taking over 13 minutess to encode our test 11-minute movie for iTunes (two or three minutes is the norm) and play of Portal was unforgivably sluggish, with frankly pathetic frame rates of just 10fps.

However, the sluggish processor probably played its part in helping the battery keep going long after many others would have bitten the dust --you'll easily get more than a day's solid use out of it.

Conclusion

The Acer Iconia W510 is a good-looking tablet with a securely fastening dock on the accompanying keyboard that gives you instant laptop capability. It has a good array of ports and full-fat Windows 8 but it's let down badly by its underpowered processor which just about copes with light tablet duties, but struggles severely when it has to deal with standard laptop drills.

Specifications

• CPU : 1.5GHz dual core Intel Atom Z2760
• Operating system : Windows 8 64-bit
• Memory : 2GB RAM, 32GB Flash storage
• Display : 10.1in Active Matrix TFT Colour LCD
• Audio/visual : Microphone,
• Wireless : Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC
• Ports : 1x micro USB 3.0, 1x micro HDMI; headphone jack, multi-cardreader
• Battery : 3540mAh
• Size : 259x168x19mm
• Weight : 1.26kg (tablet and keyboard)

BlackBerry 10 OS review

The BlackBerry 10 operating system -- widely seen as the company-no-longer-known-as RIM's last chance to turn its sliding fortunes around and keep itself in the top tier of smartphone manufacturers.

The good news is that it's slick, easy to use, and looks distinctly different from any of its rivals. The bad news is that if you're not already a BlackBerry user, there may not be enough to entice you to step across the floor and go BB. True, there are some legitimate appeals for business, particularly relating to security, but with some firms allegedly holding back on committing to BB just in case the firm goes belly up mid-contract, there's clearly still quite a bit of convincing and reassuring to do.

Swipe city
So what do you get? Well, based on the full touchscreen Z10 (the Qwerty keyboard-packing Q10 should be with us in the next few weeks), it's a ground-up rebuild, stepping cleanly away from past incarnations to deliver something very new. New is a relative term here though. It might not look much like past BlackBerrys, but it clearly owes something to iOS's neatly structured rows of icons, rather than Android's jumble of shortcuts and widgets.

That's no bad thing in itself, but it's the swipe-based interface that marks it out as something else. BB refers to the system as "Flow", with the idea being that you flow between apps and pages, without hard back or home buttons to disturb the smoothness of the user experience.

You open the lock page by swiping up from the bottom of the screen, and can then brush right to left to reveal several pages of icons. When you want to come out of an app you slide up from the bottom again, and the app shrinks to an "Active Frame" (it'll show up to eight, four to a page) which you can then either close, or keep running so they're handy for later.

At the bottom of the screen when you're not in an app are three shortcuts, similar to the later Android layout, but this time it's phone, search and camera. There are some nice animated effects as one page of apps fades into the next as you scroll, which isn't terribly practical, but it does help it to look like a sophisticated, well thought out interface. Swiping down when you're within an app often gives you access to more menus or additional info. Counterintuitively, scrolling up when you're in the camera app won't switch it off -- you'll simply take a picture. To exit the camera you'll need to swipe from the left -- it's an unusual lapse in consistency that betrays just how new this system is.

It's all quite a leap from standard smartphone behaviour, and there's definitely a learning curve to get used to swiping in general, as well as its various subtleties. For instance, swiping only halfway up while you're in an app reduces the screen, and gives you a "Peek" at any messages you have waiting. You can then scroll right to instantly access your messages via the BlackBerry Hub. When you're finished you simply swipe to the left to access the app you were just in. Neat. Once you've got the hang of it, it quickly starts to feel very natural, helped by the fact that it's very smooth, with no sign of lag or jerkiness. We can expect to see at least some of this functionality appropriated by BB's rivals in the not too distant future.

BlackBerry Hub
Swiping left from the home screen takes you to the BlackBerry Hub, from which you can check and update your emails, texts, BBMs and social network. It's a neat solution that only requires you to enter your various account details to keep you posted.

Messages can either be shown all together as a single timeline, or you can view each of your different sources by pressing the Hub button at bottom left. Pressing and holding a particular message also brings up a menu of options from the right, including the usual reply, forward and delete, but also, flag, file, invite to meeting and search by sender or subject. Flick down from the top of the message list and you'll also see today's calendar entries. It's a very slick system overall, and well designed to save you extra seconds throughout the working day.

Regular users will be pleased to note that despite a bit of a facelift, BBM remains intact, though now BBM Video has been added to BBM Voice to unify all types of communication. All free of course if you're connected to Wi-Fi, though messages come off your data allowance if you're not, which soon clocks up if you're using video

Keyboard, browser and Balance
The keyboard has something new too, with its predictive text that populates the keyboard as you type, with each word next to its respective next letter. When you want to use one, you flick it up to the typing pane and hey presto! Cleverly (and a little spookily) it will also predict new words before you've started typing them, based on what you've already written. Again, there's a learning curve, but it's very intuitive once you've got used to it.

The browser is neat and easy to use, with slide-in menus available to both left and right when you need them. It's very fast too, and includes a Reader option, that pulls out the text from a webpage and lays it out in clear, ad and banner-free ebook style for easier perusal. Flash video capability is on board, even though the format is on the way out and Adobe has said it won't be doing any more upgrades -- but at least you shouldn't have any trouble viewing sites that still use it.

Cascades is BlackBerry's new navigation feature, which helps you to multitask without having to come out of the application you're in. So if you're reading a message, you can pull it to the right to check if any new messages have come in while you've been reading, then release to flick back to where you were. In the calendar app you can pull to the right to show a bit of yesterday, or to the left to get a glimpse of tomorrow.

BlackBerry Balance is the feature that the company hopes will endear it to business users. This in effect allows you to have two phones in one, with your "home" details including calls, emails and web details, kept completely separate from your corporate identity, which takes its cue from your company's BlackBerry Enterprise Server and only shows the apps and info that you need for work.

That's a very neat option too, but then if a company already has mobile device management (MDM) software, the same can be done with pretty much any type of smartphone -- and in these days of BYOD, you still need to persuade the punters that a BlackBerry is the device they really want to use.

Fewer apps
So far, for the most part, so good. But BlackBerry (don't call it App)World is the company's Achilles heel. Apps have the power to make or break the BlackBerry OS, and so far they've been a bit underwhelming. There are currently a little over 70,000 apps on there, which doesn't sound too bad, and it's certainly much more than you're ever likely to use. But with Apple and Google each offering ten times that number, it does seem a bit lacking.

So while there are many of the big boys available from BlackBerry World, like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Angry Birds, but there are also a few high-profile omissions (so far), such as Spotify, Pinterest, Temple Run and many more. New additions are coming all the time, but there is the danger that BB may be at the back of the queue for any essential apps of tomorrow. The search options aren't quite as well developed as its rivals either, with no option to show the best free or paid-for apps separately.

Conclusion
Was it worth the wait? Yes -- just about. BB10 certainly offers a system that's distinctly different (the swiping) with some of the best elements of both iOS and Android. It's smooth and sophisticated as well as being very practical and easy to use once you get your head around the new way of doing things. It also has some attractive out-of-the-box security options for corporate users.

But whether it succeeds will be a bit of a chicken and egg exercise -- if enough punters like it, the apps will follow, but if it can't guarantee the level of flexibility and capability you get from a well-stocked app store, it's likely to whither on the vine, which would be a very great shame.

HTC One review

HTC's been bombarding us with a variety of Ones for the past year, but it's saved the best until now -- following the One C, One V, One X and all the others, it's time for the HTC One, with the highest spec we've ever seen on an HTC handset.

It's on sale now for around £520.

Design
HTC clearly sees nothing wrong with the aesthetic appeal of the flat black slab, and minimalism is a key factor with the look of the HTC One. Most of the front is taken up by a single pane of Gorilla Glass topped and tailed by a slim plastic band that holds a microphone and loudspeakers, plus a 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera.

There's no access to the battery inside the sealed metal casing and no way to augment the memory via microSD card. Fortunately it comes with a hefty 32GB or 64GB already on board, which should be more than enough for most. There's a slot in the side for your micro SIM card, plus volume and power/sleep buttons, a 3.5mm headphone jack and microUSB power/sync slot, but that's your lot.

The metal casing certainly gives it the feel of a premium product, and a good step or two up the quality scale from the plasticky features of many other high-end Android handsets like the Samsung Galaxy S3. But lovely as it is, the matte black surface on the back -- paint on metal, basically -- seems to be unduly prone to scuffs and scratches.

Features and performance
The 4.7-inch touchscreen looks gorgeous, with its high resolution of 1,080x1,920 pixels, which equates to a retina-assaulting 468 pixels-per-inch (ppi). That's way ahead of the iPhone 5's 326ppi and just about every other smartphone out there. Still, even though the figures are big, at this level, the law of diminishing returns is very much in evidence, and it's a tough call to say that it actually looks better than the iPhone's display or those of other high-end handsets -- they all look beautifully sharp, with rich contrast and vibrant colours, and although the One looks terrific, it doesn't actually look like the clear leader its specs would suggest. 

It's fast though. The quad-core 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor backed by a full 2GB of RAM absolutely rips through the apps at a lightning pace. Switching between apps and screens feels as quick as thought, with virtually no delay at all. It delivered an AntuTu performance benchmark score of 22,420, the highest we've yet seen from a smartphone, comfortably faster even than other quad-core powerhouses like the Sony Xperia Z or the Google Nexus 4.

Android
It's running Android 4.1 version of Jelly Bean rather than the very latest 4.2, but we're promised an upgrade soon. It looks different from other Jelly Bean handsets though, because this is the first we've seen of version 5 of HTC's justly lauded Sense interface. The UI is lush, and can be a bit processor-heavy, but the One can cope with it and then some. There's just one other home page on the HTC One out of the box, but you can add others as you need them (up to five) and fill them with a variety of shortcuts and widgets.

HTC has lost the Android multi-tasking button from the bottom of the screen. There's just home and back buttons, and for multi-tasking you'll need to press twice on the home button, or hold it down to bring up the intuitive Google Now search feature. You can also double press the HTC logo in the middle to bring up the shortcuts menu. All well and good, but not very intuitive -- there's a bit of a learning curve to get the hang of this phone.

HTC BlinkFeed offers a Flipboard-type service that pulls together your favourite media and social networking updates into a magazine-style interface, which displays in various sized tiles for you to scroll through. It's a fun way to keep up with what's happening, but the news feeds are limited -- you can only use the ones that HTC has approved -- and it doesn't really offer any improvements on Flipboard, which is available for free from Google Play. It's not bad, but weirdly, you've got no choice in the matter, since you can't take it off or replace it with something else.

Camera quality
HTC has been putting more effort into its cameras of late and this "UltraPixel" model shows the benefits. It has a large F2.0 aperture and wide-angle 28mm lens, though the megapixel count is lower than we might have expected -- four in all. The company is apparently hoping that less, but bigger, pixels on a larger sensor will let in more light and so enable it to take better pictures.

And on this evidence, it may well have something. Pics are crisp and detailed with realistic looking colours -- not too saturated or artificially vibrant. Of course, they might have looked even better with more megapixels, but at least this shows that there are more elements to taking good shots.

There are lots of photo features to play with too, including smile capture, HDR, Sweep Panorama and something called Zoe Mode, which allows you to take a three-second video consisting of 20 frames -- you can then either save it as a video clip, or you can pick the best still shot. There's also a range of photo editing facilities and effects too.

The video camera can shoot in full 1080p HD resolution and unusually, the HDR effect is also available here, though the picture quality drops noticeably, making it seem like more of a gimmick.

The HTC One packs a lot of power, and it's good to see a sizeable battery on hand to help maintain the high performance for longer than a few blinks. Unfortunately, though it does well, the 2,300mAh power pack doesn't excel -- it should just about get you through a day's worth of heavy use, but not much more.

Conclusion
The HTC One is a lot of smartphone, with a terrifically powerful processor, a stonkingly good screen and pretty good camera. But its premium spec comes at a premium price and with other high quality Androids like the Google Nexus 4 coming in at half the price, how many will want to stump up the extra ackers for just a few extra attributes?

Motorola Razr HD review

It's been a while since Motorola has been a cool name to drop in smartphone-centric circles. It's a shame, since following an ill-advised obsession with the ultra-slim RAZR brand which led to a variety of good-looking but so-so handsets, the US firm has recently been serving up some pretty tasty dishes, and the the Razr HD is probably the best so far.

It's on sale now for around £400. 

Design
Like previous Razrs, the HD is slim, at just a smidgeon over 8mm, but it still takes up a hefty amount of pocket space at 132x68mm and at a weighty 146g it feels like a hefty slab of tech. All of the front is covered by a single sheet of Corning Gorilla Glass surrounded by the casing rim which sits slightly proud to help protect it against accidental scratches if you happen to set it down face first. A cover on the side ejects to permit insertion of your microSIM and microSD cards (it has 16GB on board, but you can add cards up to 32GB). Charging and syncing is by the usual microUSB port and there's a micro HDMI slot too for mirroring the Razr HD's display on your TV screen.

The backplate fixed to the aluminium casing is made of tough DuPont Kevlar, which has the feel of rubberised plastic, and incorporates a distinctive chevron pattern that appears to move in the light -- we rather liked it. The casing apparently features "splash guard protection", though with no seals on the various orifices it's hard to see just how effective this is. It's certainly not in the same league as some of Sony's recent handsets like the Xperia Z, which can withstand being totally submersed in water.

Features
The 4.7-inch Super Amoled touchscreen display offers a fair-enough HD resolution of 1,280x720 pixels, which equates to around 312 pixels-per-inch (ppi) -- certainly in the same ball park as the iPhone 5's 326ppi but a step down from the recent HTC One's stupendous 468ppi. Even so, it looks beautifully sharp and colours are deliciously vibrant whether you're checking out photos online or viewing HD video. Some might prefer a slightly less OTT display, but you can always turn the brightness down a bit to give it a more "natural" look (and save the battery while you're at it).

It's running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, so just slightly behind the very latest 4.2 version, though Motorola reckons an update's on the way. The company's given the Android UI a light skim with some slightly different icons and a few original widgets, including its circle icons, which show time, weather and battery life. Flicking each circle up or down gives you additional info too, like different cities for the weather, or different clock displays. It's a nice idea -- it would be good to see some more circle widgets in future.

There are a few other tricks too, such as swiping to the right from the homepage to bring up a list of quick settings, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and mobile data so you can make some on-the-fly adjustments. There's also Motorola's SmartActions app which allows you to programme different actions, such as cutting back on background apps when your battery's low, or enabling you to set up particular functions in different locations -- like putting your phone on silent when you're at work, or enabling GPS and Bluetooth when you get in the car. You can switch your SmartActions on manually, or programme them to come on depending on where you are, what time it is, the status of your battery or other conditions.

Performance
The 1.5GHz dual-core processor is backed by a single 1GB RAM, which until recently would have looked very good, but in these days of quad-core engines backed by 2GB (take a bow, HTC One, Galaxy S4) is now starting to look just a little bit stingy. This isn't a front-rank powerhouse, and the price probably reflects that, but it does make a decent fist of fast shifting between apps and displaying data-heavy web pages. It delivered an AnTuTu performance benchmark rating of 7,690 which compares well with other dual-core handsets like the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini or the Sony Xperia T.

This puts it in the mid ranks rather than the real top-enders like the iPhone 5, HTC One or the soon-come Samsung Galaxy S4. Still, it has 4G capability if you're in an area that can make use of it, plus NFC for wireless payments.

The eight-megapixel camera comes with autofocus and an LED flash -- pretty much standard for this price point in other words. Photo modes include multi-shot (up to six), HDR (High Dynamic Range) imaging which helps to balance the light and dark areas of a picture and panorama, which lets you stitch together a series of pics to form a 180-degree image.

Picture quality is decent though not exceptional, lacking a little in detail but with good colour balance that looks more accurate when you view your pics somewhere other than the Razr HD's Super Amoled screen. Video recording holds up pretty well though, and it will capture scenes in 1080p HD.

There's a sizeable 2,530mAh battery on board, bigger even that the mammoth 2,300mAh power pack on the new HTC One, and despite the power demanded by the processor, it seemed to do a pretty good job, managing comfortably more than a day of heavy use.

Conclusion
The Motorola name may not have the hip cache of Apple, Samsung or even Sony, but on the evidence of the Razr HD the US company is perfectly capable of producing a very fine Android smartphone. And we can expect more once the effects of Google's buyout of the company begin to take effect, perhaps later this year.

Despite its thinness, the Razr HD will seem on the chunky side to some, and though it has a decent spec, there's not a lot to help it stand out from the tide of mid to high-end Android handsets out there. It might be the best Razr yet, but that's not necessarily enough to guarantee success.

Best budget Android phones: review roundup

High-spec, high-price smartphones might be what get us excited, but the real work is being done at the budget end of the Android market, with workhorse devices that make the daily business of organising our lives, entertaining us and keeping in touch seem easy and hassle-free. Top tier technology is steadily trickling down to the lower price points too, sometimes in less than a year, making this an increasingly competitive area, and harder than ever to tell the crackers from the squibs. Here are a few of the best budget Android devices that have come across our desk in the last few months.

Huawei Ascend G300

Chinese manufacturer Huawei made quite a splash with the G300 last year and it still takes some beating, with its large, sharp four-inch screen sitting securely behind tough Gorilla Glass and a fast, capable 1GHz processor backed by 512MB RAM. It's got a fair quality five-megapixel camera with autofocus that starts up impressively quickly, making it ideal for quick snaps. The metal casing is nice to see at this level. While it's no great looker, and with Gingerbread starting to look a bit old now, for the price, this is a cracking little device from a brand that's getting serious about smartphones.

Specifications
Software: Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread
Processor: 1GHz
Display: 4in 800x480 pixels
Camera: 5 megapixel
Size: 123x63x11mm
Weight: 140g
Wired: 4in screen, 1GHz processor, good spec for the price
Tired: Camera lacks features and could be better quality
Score: 8

Sony Xperia Tipo

The Xperia Tipo may not be a world-beater in terms of spec, but it's excellent value for the sub-£100 price. Its bijou 3.2-inch screen offers a so-so resolution of 480x320 pixels. It has a 3.2-megapixel camera, which doesn't look great on paper, but this being Sony the snaps are a cut above some of its similarly specced rivals from HTC and others. The 800MHz processor does a decent enough job too, but this is just about the cheapest handset we've yet seen that comes with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box -- smoother, more intuitive and generally nicer to use, it's a serious step up from Gingerbread.

Specifications
Price: £70
Software: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
Processor: 800MHz
Display: 3.2in 480x320 pixels
Camera: 3.2 megapixel
Size: 103x57x13mm
Weight: 99g
Wired: Basic but solidly built, okay camera
Tired: Screen not very sensitive
Score: 6

HTC Desire C

HTC Desire has been a smartphone powerhouse in recent years, churning out all sorts of variations on the theme. The Desire C is the cheapest one they do, but still manages to pack in a decent spec, with Ice Cream Sandwich on board from the off, good-sized 3.5-inch screen and a pretty decent five-megapixel camera. The 600MHz processor is a bit too low-powered to impress, though HTC has pared back the Sense interface to make it a bit smoother -- apps can still take a while to load up though and the fancier games won't be seen at their best. It's got typical HFC high build quality and NFC's on board for wireless payments and quick-change settings if you're keen to use the latest thing,

Specifications
Price: £100
Software: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
Processor: 600MHz
Display: 3.5in 320x480 pixels
Camera: 5 megapixel
Size: 107x61x12mm
Weight: 98g
Wired: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, HTC Sense 4.0, decent camera
Tired: Slow processor, unresponsive screen
Score: 7


Acer Liquid Glow

Debuting with Ice Cream Sandwich, the Liquid Glow has the power to back it up with a 1GHz processor and 512MB RAM that helps make navigation and use smooth'n'easy, whatever you're doing. The large 3.7-inch screen offers a sharper than usual resolution of 800x480 pixels -- one of the best you'll see at this price point, and all the better for watching movies or for showing off the pics from the really rather good five-megapixel camera. There's no front-facing camera for video calls, but its sleek, tactile casing is a joy to hold.

Specifications
Price: £130
Software: Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich
Processor: 1GHz
Display: 3.7in 480x800 pixels
Camera: 5 megapixel
Size: 117x59x12mm
Weight: 125g
Wired: Good spec for the price, Ice Cream Sandwich, solid build
Tired: No front-facing camera
Score: 7

Sony Xperia Z review

Sony's mantle as one of the major smartphone manufacturers has slipped a little in recent years, but it still produces some outstanding handsets. The Xperia Z is just such a creature, with a powerful quad-core processor, 13-megapixel camera, 4G and a feast of extras.

It's on sale now for around £450.

The price puts it in the high-end category, but the spec more than justifies it. This is a handset for high-flyers and phone fans who like to be ahead of the curve and are prepared to pay for it.

Design
The Xperia Z is not what you'd call a 'convenient' handset though, with a five-inch screen it's a big ol' handful measuring 139x71x8mm. With shatter-proof glass both back and front it's no lightweight either, tipping the scales at 146g. Around the sides is a single large power/sleep button, a wafer-thin volume rocker and dock connectors. Everything else is hidden behind sealed plastic grommets, including microSD and SIM card slots, microUSB port and 3.5mm headphone jack.

The Xperia Z also makes a virtue of being a tough cookie; it's a rugged phone in a smoothie body. It might be covered in glass, but it's scratch resistant and shatterproof, as well as being water resistant (much like the Xperia Tablet Z). We were able to douse it under the tap and leave it in a filled sink for a couple of minutes with no apparent ill effects -- so it should be able to cope with the general perils of the urban jungle. Sony makes no promises for deserts or mountains but for most day-to-day attacks it should be fine.

Features
That "Reality Screen" is rather lovely though. With a pixel resolution of 1,920x1,080 that boils down to 441 pixels-per-inch (way ahead of the iPhone 5's 326, for instance) and 16 million colours it looks stunning, and it's beautifully sensitive too, responding instantly and accurately to every brush and press -- something you can't always say even for high-end handsets. It has the latest Sony Mobile Bravia Engine to help smooth out video play and we certainly couldn't detect any awkwardness in any of the movies we played.

For such a forward-thinking handset it's a surprise to see the 4.1 version of Android Jelly Bean rather than the very latest 4.2, for which we'll have to wait a little longer. It's not a disaster by any means -- you still get the intuitive Google Now service that punts info at you based on your location and previous choices without the need to search, but it does take the shine off the newness of it a little.

Sony's put its own skin over the top of Android of course, notably with a lock screen that looks like rippling Venetian blinds when you run your thumb over it, and its own distinctive array of shortcut icons and widgets. The unloved Timescape, which pulled together your social networking updates has been removed entirely though, unable to compete with Google's own alerts bar.

Performance
The Xperia Z has 4G LTE capability though you'll need a contract with EE to take full advantage of it (or hold your breath for other networks getting all their 4G ducks in a row later this year). The 1.5GHz quad-core processor is one of the heftiest beasts we've yet seen on a smartphone, and backed by a full 2GB RAM it's a very powerful engine. Our regular AnTuTu performance benchmark test delivered a score of 18,440 -- that's the highest we've yet seen on a handset, defeating quad-core rivals like the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 (13,619), HTC One X+ (16,157) and Google Nexus 4 (17,903), though the last one at least has the distinction of costing around half as much. In short, this is the fastest smartphone we have ever reviewed.

But whether you're doing 3D gaming, watching a movie or even just listening to music, the Xperia Z does seem to get uncomfortably hot during prolonged use. Battery life isn't great either, and we barely got a full day's steady use out of it with the standard settings. There is however Stamina Mode, which powers down all the phone's functions when the screen goes dim. Good for the battery, but not always so good for communication, though you can customise the settings to leave certain functions on, depending on what you need doing.

Camera quality
Considering the power of the processor, it's a bit of a surprise that the 13.1-megapixel camera takes a good two seconds to start up. Not great for speedy snaps, but once it's up and running, it's a bit of a cracker. As well as Sony's Exmor R sensor, designed to improve the quality of pics taken in low light, features include touch-to-focus, face detection, image stabilisation, high dynamic range (HDR) automation, sweep panorama and GPS geo-tagging. All of that would matter naught if picture quality was sub par, but thankfully, it isn't; picture quality is really very good, even in low light, with sharp edges and realistic colours.

Video quality is up there too, with full HD 1,080p recording at 30fps. Unusually, the HDR setting is also available for video as well as stills, which can add an interesting, other-worldly look to your vids.

NFC and connectivity
Near-field communication (NFC) is on board for wireless payments (when you can find a place that accepts them) and for instant settings changes using Sony Smart Tags, though none seemed to be included in the box. Sony has obviously been thinking about the technology too, and it will work with the latest Sony Bravia TVs -- touch your phone to the TV, and it can be set to mirror what's on the phone wirelessly. If you don't have one of the latest Bravias, your options are more limited, since there's no HDMI port to run HD video direct to your TV.

There's 16GB of memory on board, which offers an adequate bit of room for HD pics and vids, but if you need more, it can carry microSD cards up to 32GB in size.

Conclusion
The Sony Xperia Z is a terrific handset offering (almost) the best of Android plus a terrific screen, very fine camera, super-powerful processor and lots more besides. If you can handle the size and the weight, it's a phone to be proud of, and throws down the gauntlet for the soon-come Samsung Galaxy S4.

Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard mini Review

Someone can easily love their Apple iPad mini without being fond of typing with the on-screen keyboard. That's where the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard mini comes in -- it adds a physical keyboard to this tablet without adding a lot of bulk.

I have the full-size version for my iPad and I have always been pleased with it, so I expected big things of the mini version. For the most part it lives up to my expectations.

Build and Design

Logitech has created a great looking item here. It's very professional, and definitely a good match for the iPad mini.

The size of Apple's tablet sets the constraints for this keyboard -- you don't want to carry around an accessory that's wider than the computer it's meant to be used with.

The iPad mini is, obviously, small so this add-on has to be as well. This means that there isn't room for a full-sized set of keys like you'd have for a PC, or even a laptop. It's about 80% of the size of a typical keyboard.

This might cause issues for those who have big hands, as they're going to find this keyboard a bit cramped. But I could say the same thing about the iPad mini itself -- if you have hands that are well above average in size, perhaps the full-size version of Apple's tablet might be better for you.

To save even more space, Logitech combined the function of some keys. The only one of these I found even mildly vexing is that TAB is Fn-Q.

But not every corner was cut, not by a long shot. There's a full row of dedicated number keys, as well as a set of directional keys. Punctuation keys are arranged just as they are in a full-size keyboard, so you won't be hunting for the Question Mark.

This accessory has "Ultrathin" in its name for a reason: it really is slender. It isn't going to add a lot of bulk to your tablet when you're carrying it around.

To further save on bulk, it connects to the iPad mini with magnets. You just put the tablet on the keyboard and they will hold themselves together. There is a small hinge along one side for a bit of extra stability.

The downside of this is that this gadget is not designed to protect the tablet. It offers some protection for the screen from scratches when the two are being carried around, but does nothing for the back, nor would it be any help if the tablet is dropped.

More magnets alert the tablet when the keyboard is locked on. Attaching the keyboard puts the iPad to sleep, while removing the keyboard wakes it up.

When in use, the iPad mini fits into a slot that runs just above the top row of keys. It's held in with even more magnets so it's not going to fall out. But keep in mind, it offers only one viewing angle. It's a fine angle, but there's no way to adjust it besides tilting up the entire keyboard.

Performance

The iPad mini's on-screen keyboard is fine for short messages, but a physical one is so much better when doing serious writing. The fact that the screen has no "give" is hard on the fingertips after a while.

The keys on the Ultrathin Keyboard mini, on the other hand, offer a decent amount of travel, making lengthy typing much more comfortable.

I also find it much faster. I've never met anyone who can successfully touchtype on a virtual keyboard, but it is possible with this accessory. It's a bit cramped, but it's doable.

Another thing that's fast and easy is setting this accessory up. It communicates with the tablet over the short-range wireless standard Bluetooth, and Apple's iOS offers built-in support for external Bluetooth keyboards, so no software has to be added to the tablet. All that's necessary is to pair the two devices, a process that takes about 15 seconds total.

The battery life on the Ultrathin Keyboard mini is more than generous. I've had it for a week and, even with extensive use, is still on its first charge with no signs that it's running out.

This isn't surprising -- the full size version can go months on a single charge. I expect its little brother will as well.

Conclusion

The Ultrathin Keyboard mini is a handy bit of kit for those who want to turn their tablet into a miniature laptop. Its keyboard is quite good, even for extended use. Far better than typing on a screen.

At $80 it's not cheap, but it's probably worth it for those who want to make their iPad mini much more productive.

Samsung Galaxy S4 price revealed to be 690 Euros in Portugal

 

Samsung Galaxy S4 is expected to start retailing in select markets from April 26. After the price in US and UK for the much-awaited smartphone were revealed, there's confirmation of the price elsewhere in Europe.According to PhoneArena, in Portugal the 16GB version of Samsung Galaxy S4 will cost 689.99 Euros, or roughly Rs. 48,100. This price has been indicated by Portuguese arm of smartphone retailer Expansys, which is taking pre-orders for both black and white variants of Samsung Galaxy S4.

As per earlier reports, AT&T will start taking pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy S4 from April 16 for $250. The amount is $50 above the usual introductory price for high-end smartphones, including Apple's iPhone 5. There were unofficial reports that the unlocked Samsung Galaxy S4 will be available for approximately $579, but based on the US contract pricing and the unlocked pricing in other countries, the actual price should be much higher.

While in UK the customers will have to shell 41 Pounds a month to get their hands on the Samsung Galaxy S4 as per the listing by Phones4U. There are no upfront charges to be paid if a customer opts for this plan. It is expected that the 4G plans for Samsung Galaxy S4 are even more expensive as customers are required to pay a one time fee of 270 UK pounds in addition to the monthly fee of 31 Pounds.

As per the pre-order listing by Amazon the UK customers will have to shell out 699 Pounds for the 16GB version of the Samsung Galaxy S4.

There was another report on the European pricing for the Samsung Galaxy S4. Amazon DE has been taking pre-orders for the much awaited smartphone for 650 Euros.

So far, there is no word in regards to India availability or what could be the tentative price for this smartphone, but based on the pricing in other regions, customers should be prepared for pricing around the Rs. 50,000 mark.

Just to recap, Samsung Galaxy S4 sports a 5-inch full-HD screen with a resolution of 1080x1920 pixels, and pixel density of 441ppi. It is powered by 1.6GHz Exynos octa-core processor in some regions, and a 1.9GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon quad-core processor in others. It has 2GB of RAM and a PowerVR SGX544MP3 triple-core GPU.

The smartphone will come in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB variants but will also feature a microSD card slot for expanding the memory. The Galaxy S4 sports a 13-megapixels rear shooter and a 2-megapixel one on the front. The Galaxy S4 also offers more camera features including dual-shot, employing the use of both front and back camera, an eraser shot mode to remove people from photos, and a Cinemagram like feature called Cinema Photo, among several other tricks.

Samsung is also rumoured to be working on the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini, which is expected to be launched this week. As per leaks, Samsung Galaxy S4 mini will sport a 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED display with 256ppi. The smartphone will allegedly come with 1.6GHz dual-core processor. It is expected to run on Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) along with TouchWiz Nature UX 2.0. News reports also suggest that Samsung will be launching Galaxy S4 mini in both single-SIM and dual-SIM variants.

7 best smartphones to consider now

If you're ready to drop some money on one of the latest and greatest smartphones, you have some great choices — too many, in fact.

Turbocharged quad-core processors and wireless charging have nearly become standard on top-of-the-line Android phones. As always, the latest iPhone and its gorgeous screen and vast ecosystem of content is worth your consideration. For those looking to break free of iOS or Android altogether, the underrated Windows Phone 8 awaits.

How can you possibly decide? I've rounded up the 7 best smartphones available and I'll tell you what makes them good.

HTC One

Honed from a slab of aluminum, this 4G LTE flagship from HTC wows on looks and specs. It features a high-resolution 4.7-inch screen, 32 or 64 GB of storage, and is powered by a quad-core processor.

HTC also worked hard on customizing the latest version of the Android operating system, Jelly Bean. The BlinkFeed feature gives you a live-updated home screen similar to Windows Phone 8. You pick the social networks and news feeds you want to stay tuned into.

While other phone makers race to up camera megapixel counts, HTC went in the other direction with the One's UltraPixel Camera. It has fewer megapixels, but a bigger sensor than other smartphones. If you love to shoot in low light or at night, you should give the One a serious look.

Cost: Not known yet. Available in April at AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint.

iPhone 5

Apple's flagship smartphone — introduced last September — has a 4-inch Retina screen and the ability to connect to 4G LTE networks from Verizon, AT&T and Sprint.

 

 

Because of the new Lightning dock connector and dual-core A6 processor, the iPhone 5 is notably slimmer than the 4S and twice as fast.

The rear camera's sensor matches the 4S in size, 8 megapixels, but captures much better pictures in low-light situations.

For many users, the iPhone 5's best feature will be access to the App Store, which is rapidly approaching the milestone of 1 million apps. 

Cost: $199 (16GB); $299 (32GB); $399 (64GB) with 2-year contract at AT&T, Sprint and Verizon. $100 down (16GB), plus $20 per month for 24 months at T-Mobile.

Apple also sells an unlocked, contract-free iPhone 5 starting at $649. It only works on GSM networks, such as AT&T and T-Mobile in the U.S.

HTC 8X

Want something different than iOS or Android? The Windows Phone 8 operating system is a good place to look. Its unique "live tile" home screen is a definite winner.

 

If you want to try it out, the HTC 8X with 4.3-inch display is an excellent choice.

This sleek and compact phone boasts a speedy dual-core processor and 1GB RAM on the inside, which is a big improvement over past Windows Phone units. Plus, it's 4G LTE-capable.

The Windows Phone 8 operating system has far fewer apps available for it, compared to iOS and Android, but you'll stay productive with mobile versions of Excel, Word, OneNote and PowerPoint. The built-in People Hub keeps all your social media feeds organized in handy place.

Non-expandable storage maxes out at 16GB, but that can be extended with Microsoft's SkyDrive cloud storage service.

Cost: $100 (16GB), with a 2-year Verizon or AT&T contract. $0 down, plus $18 per month for 24 months at T-Mobile.

Although thicker and heavier, the Nokia Lumia 920 ($100, AT&T) is another great option for Windows Phone fans.

Nexus 4

Launched last November, this popular unlocked phone from Google and LG has a 4.7-inch display. How popular is it? It's often back-ordered 1 to 2 weeks!

The wait is worth it, though.

The combination of quad-core processor and stock Android Jelly Bean — unencumbered with carrier "extras" — make the Nexus 4 a very snappy smartphone.

Although it's limited to HSPA+ "4G" connectivity, that's fast enough for an average user. Note that it will only work on GSM networks like AT&T and T-Mobile.

The previous version of the Nexus had a so-so 5MP camera. The 4's 8MP camera is a lot better and more fun, especially when taking panoramas. Both vertical and horizontal images can be stitched into stunning Photo Sphere pictures.

Cost, unlocked from Google: $299 (8GB); $349 (16GB). $50 down (16GB), plus $17 per month for 24 months at T-Mobile.

Samsung Galaxy Note II

There were a few jeers when Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Note II, a "phablet" (phone + tablet) with a gigantic 5.5-inch screen that includes an advanced S Pen stylus. Despite that, it has become a top choice of many mobile business users who need 4G connectivity and like to quickly jot down notes, make annotations and run two apps side by side.

 

 

The Galaxy Note II features a quad-core processor and runs on Android Jelly Bean. You can expand the 16GB or 32GB of internal storage up to an additional 64GB using a microSD card.

Cost: $300 (16GB) with 2-year contract from Sprint, Verizon and AT&T. $200 down, plus $20 per month for 24 months at T-Mobile.

Samsung Galaxy S4

The Samsung Galaxy is the phone line that grabbed attention away from the iPhone and shifted it toward Android.

 

 

The 4G LTE Galaxy S4 is the best version yet. With its polycarbonate shell available in white or gray, it looks a lot like the S III, but the S4 is lighter and thinner and features an expanded 5-inch HD screen, 13 MP rear camera and faster quad-core processor.

Samsung integrated a ton of useful, customized software features into the 4.2.2 Android Jelly Bean operating system. S Translator allows you to converse in 10 different languages while using email or the ChatOn instant messaging app. With S Health, fitness buffs can turn the phone into a pedometer and calorie-counter. In the car, control the phone hands-free with S Voice Drive.

Infrared technology allows users to tilt the phone up or down to scroll. You can also use your finger like an S Pen, but there's no need to actually touch the screen - just hover slightly above it. A video will pause if you look away from the screen and resume when you look back. The IR capability, by the way, also puts the S4 to work as TV remote.

Choose storage of 16, 32 or 64 GB, which can be expanded with up to a 64 GB microSD card.

Cost: Not known yet. Available in late April at AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile.

LG Optimus G

LG proved it can still make a splash in the smartphone world with the Optimus G, a close cousin of the Nexus 4.

Sprint's version features a powerful 13MP camera, although AT&T's model is no slouch at 8MP. Sprint's model has 32 GB of non-expandable storage, while AT&T's 16GB Optimus can be expanded via microSD card.

Either way, you'll get a blazing fast quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and a nice 4.7-inch display.

Right now, the Optimus G is stuck on Android Ice Cream Sandwich, but it should get an update to the newer Jelly Bean soon.

Cost: $50 ($32GB) with a 2-year Sprint contract, new line only; $100 (16GB) with a 2-year AT&T contract.

Razer Edge Pro Gaming Tablet Review

Review

 

Like many PC gamers, I've often wished a machine capable of putting the power of a gaming rig in a portable device. Gaming laptops are lovely and have their place, but that place is often on top of a desk. After a week with Razer's new Edge gaming tablet, I realize what I really wanted was to play Bioshock Infinite in the bathroom without burning my thighs. All hail Razer, deliverer of dreams.

Razer's only review guidelines before sending along a Razer Edge loaner was that I not tell them I used it in the bathroom. I am a review guideline freedom fighter, deep in the trenches, pants around my ankles, balancing a $1,499 gaming tablet on the side of the tub before redeploying to less secluded front. And why not? I don't have to stop playing until the batteries run out.

Razer first introduced the Edge in early 2012 as an odd-looking tablet/controller hybrid with handles on either side containing buttons and analog sticks. It looked pretty ridiculous, but there was promise there. Promise I was pretty sure would never be fulfilled — a pipe dream.

Yet Razer stuck with it, tapping the PC gamers in its community to help design a gaming tablet that delivered everything they wanted at a reasonable price point. A year after it debuted, the design was finalized. The Razer Edge was a real thing, and it was coming soon.

There are two models of the Razer Edge. The lower-end model runs $999 and sounds like a capable system. It's got an Intel Core i5 instead of an i7, less memory and only 64GB of storage, but I can see it getting the job done, as long as you don't want to load too many games on it at once.

The unit I've been playing on is the beefier, $1449 Razer Edge Pro. Here's what's inside:

Intel Core i7 Dual core w/ Hyper Threading Base 1.9GHz / Turbo 3.0GHz

8GB DDR3 (2x4GB 1600MHz)

Intel HD4000 (DX11) NVIDIA GT 640M LE (2GB DDR3, Optimus Technology)

10.1” (IPS, 1366x768) Multi-touch HD display

Windows 8

128/256GB SSD (SATA-III)

Intel WLAN (802.11b/g/n + BT4)

Stereo speakers Codec supports 7.1 (via HDMI through optional Docking Station) HD Webcam (front-facing, 2MP) Array microphones Dolby Home Theater v4 USB 3.0 x1 (green, SuperSpeed) Audio jack (3.5mm, 4-pole, stereo out / mic in)

Approximate Size: 278.5 mm x 178.85 mm x 19.5 mm / 10.9" x 7" x .80" Approximate Weight: 962g / 2.1Lbs

Design

It's a tablet!

t's a rectangle, as one might have expected. The design is reminecent of the Razer Blade laptop, using the same ridged metal for the back and that damn glowing octopus thing. It's about as thick as a closed Nintendo 3DS XL, and about as big as it looks in this size comparison image I made using everyday household items (in my household, that is).

It's beefier than your average tablet, but it's nice to have something to hold. It feels quite solid, and at a little over two pounds it has heft without being too much of a burden for hands used to resting comfortably on gaming mice. The Display

The 10.1 inch IPS display is as bright and crisp as a sunny day. Just don't take it outside on a sunny day, or you won't be able to see a thing. This is not a device to bring to a picnic, unless it's the most depressing picnic ever. The Razer Edge Pro has made me appreciate my back deck as a place where I'm not meant to play the new Devil May Cry.

The screen resolution is 1366x768, which might seem low to someone used to nothing less than a 1920x1080 HD monitor, but then you don't hold a 1920x1080 HD monitor inches from your face. At least you're not supposed to. It's a good resolution for the screen size, and it means the unit's graphics card doesn't have to work quite as hard.

Performance

Thanks to the glory of AT&T internet in a new apartment, downloading my normal suite of benchmarking games was out of the question, especially since I wasted a good several hours downloading Transformers: Fall of Cybertron because I was in a Transformers sort of mood. Were I to do this all over again I'd purchase a USB wired network adapter for loading purposes. The Edge's wireless isn't slow, but nothing beats a wire.

What I used for benchmarks instead were a pair of new games, Bioshock Infinite and the latest Tomb Raider, both of which were considerate enough to include built-in benchmarks.

Out of habit I tried both games at the highest possible graphics preset first. Ultra setting was not kind to either game — not that I expected it to be. Still, 17 frames per second on average for both titles is playable, just not very playable.

Cranking things down (you can totally crank downwards) to medium settings brought both titles to a lovely average of 56- 60 frames per second (I even remembered to turn off vertical sync). Not only is that playable, it's downright enjoyable, at least while it lasts.

Battery Life and Configurations

The Razer Edge uses low-powered Intel graphics to handle every day Windows 8 tablet tasks, and I'd assume the battery life for those is just fine, but there are dozens of less-expensive tablets out there if you just want to run Microsoft Word. This is about gaming.

In full-on battle mode with its optional Gamepad Controller ($249.99) loaded with an extra battery ($69.99), the Razer Edge Pro ran Bioshock Infinite for one hour and forty-five minutes.

That's not a lot of minutes, all things considered, but then you probably won't want to be using the Gamepad Controller for that long anyway. With the extra battery it adds what feels like another two pounds to the unit, and holding upwards for extended periods hurts. It works like gangbusters (though mine seems to have bugged out towards the end of my testing — Razer thinks it's faulty), and after a brief adjustment period (the screen, it moves with my hands!) it's a fun way to play. Just not a way you'd want to play for an extended period of time.

I much preferred playing on the standard docking station ($99.99) with an Xbox controller plugged in, as you can see below.

The biggest obstacle the Razer Edge faces is its own innovation. It's not just the most powerful Windows 8 tablet on the market — it's a revolutionary new way to play PC games. It's the revolutionary part I'm struggling with. I've been play PC games sitting in a chair with one hand on my keyboard and the other on my mouse for nearly two decades, so curling up on the couch with a handheld might be a little more intimacy than I'm prepared for.

Still, it's growing on me, and it's not like I can break up with it now that we've been in the bathroom together.