In the last 10 years, we've watched mobile phones go from clunky temperamental devices, to smooth touch-screen friends we can't live without. Everything from our communication to our creation, to our entertainment was blown away by the release of the iPhone, and now Google steps up to the plate to put in their two cents.
Of course, Google needs no introduction. They have been on the cutting edge of technology since 1998 and have delivered us the largest reaching search engine on the internet, free mapping of the entire world, and built many web technologies you use daily without even knowing it.
Their new Nexus One "combines innovative hardware from a partner with software that runs on Android to experiment with new mobile features and capabilities."
The software has been developed in-house by Google, leaving everyone waiting to see what this means for mobile technology in the next decade. They have designed virtually the entire software experience behind the phone, from the applications that run on it to the look and feel of each screen.
Of course none of the few thousand Google employees that were given the Nexus One to test are supposed to blog or tweet about the features. But they don't seem to have any trouble broadcasting how awesome it is. One bay area blogger said "Google Nexus One = iPhone + a little extra screen and a scroll wheel. Great touch screen, and Android."
It'll be sold online directly by Google starting in January 2010. But does this mean everything is changing? We will have to see. About the Author:
Jonathan Cates currently operates http://busy-media.com which provides affordable media solutions for print and web projects. Come by for a free quote on any project or to check out the blog for tips on DIY promotions and breaking technology news.
The Nokia X6 is a soon to be launched touch-phone from Nokia and it comes in a very stylish and sleek design. This one comes as one of the two "X Series" devices announced by Nokia; Nokia X3 being the other model. On closer look it becomes evident that the phone has inherited the design and ergonomics of the existing Nokia 5800 XpressMusic. But the X6 is loaded with some major upgradations over the 5800, including a massive 32GB internal storage memory.
The display of the Nokia X6 is a large 3.2 inches TFT capacitive touchscreen of 16M colours and 360 x 640 pixels resolution. The scratch resistant surface of the screen ensures greater protection. The touchscreen is supported by a proximity sensor and an accelerometer sensor that facilitates auto turn-off and UI auto-rotate. The 32GB internal memory is non-expandable but there is an additional 128 MB RAM memory. Such a huge storage space allows unlimited contact entries and fields to be stored in the phone-book. Equipped with Wi-Fi supporting UpnP technology, the X6 is capable of accessing any local area network and data can be conveniently shared among devices with the help of Bluetooth and USB. With 3G service network, the phone is capable of high speed HSDPA at the rate of 3.6Mbps. This one is certainly going to be among the top of the line devices from Nokia, although nothing has been specified about it's pricing so far. With Christmas time ringing it's bells, Nokia should contemplate on unleashing this beast upon the masses on a priority basis.
The Nokia X6 is being promoted as a powerful media player and is expected to bring along with loads of fun and entertainment. The media player turns out to be really versatile and it is capable of playing most file formats including MP3, WMA, WAV, RA, AAC and M4A. The 3.5 mm audio jack that comes along is really propitious for enjoying the music on a headset or for playing it on an external speaker. The video player on the other hand can play WMV, RV, MP4, and 3GP formats. Top it up with the stereo FM radio with RDS feature that allows users to listen to their favourite radio stations. Moreover the TV-out point in the phone enables one to watch the favourite videos and pictures externally on a television set. The phone camera is an efficient 5 mega pixel unit, fitted with Carl Zeiss optics. The auto focus feature along with a dual LED flash and an additional video light ensures better clarity and precision while shooting. The camera can also record videos in the VGA mode at the rate of 30fps. In addition a secondary frontal camera for video-calls has also been provided in the phone. The built-in GPS receiver allows photos to be geo-tagged and also coordinates with the Ovi Maps 3.0 application that has been included in the phone.
On the inside the Nokia X6 is a GSM phone with a quad-band reception and will be available in two colour schemes-Black on White and Red on Black. A "Comes with Music" version which will allow unlimited music download from the on-line store is also being rumored to be released very soon. Various other features and applications that have been featured in this notable device include Photo editor, stereo speakers, Voice command/dial, Document viewer (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Handwriting recognition, Email and IM. All this is powered by an efficient standard Li-Ion 1320 mAh battery that supports music play upto 35 hours. The talk time available is around 6 hours and standby time of up to 420 hours when using in 3G service. Read More about Nokia X6 and mobile phones.
The Palm Pre's launch was a huge event this year for the gadget industry. The Smartphone with its multitasking capabilities and notifications system are superb. Pre- has a multitouch functionality with touchscreen control, slide-out keyboard, good multimedia integration and Web Services like wireless options such as 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. Palm Inc's Smartphone is not so attractive like past Apple Inc iPhone but its launch will be seen as a life saver for Palm and exclusive provider Sprint Nextel Corp. Plenty could go wrong. Executives have warned of shortages. Scathing reviews could smother not just Palm's hopes, but also Sprint's. And investors might have to wait a long time for the device to boost Palm's financial.
Although Pre appears to be better than iPhone, it has some draw backs. The keyboard is cramped, the battery life is short, it lacks expansion slot, video recording and flash support. But with all these missing features and making it less appropriate for professionals, the Palm- Pre offers gadget lovers and consumers excellent features and 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 Smart phone handle tasks and manage information. The Palm Pre's design is unlike that of any Smart phone we've seen to date, but if we had to give a point of comparison, we'd say it somewhat resembles the HCT touch. It's a bit like a pebble, with its smooth, black, lacquered finish and rounded edges, and, like the iPhone, Palm keeps it simple by keeping external controls to a minimum.
The face of the device only has one control: a centre button that will take you back to the Deck of Card view. The centre key is a bit deceiving in that it looks similar to a trackball navigator, so there were times where, out of habit, we would try to navigate a page by trying to scroll up and down using the centre button, but you can only press it like a key. On top of the unit, there's a power button, a silent ringer switch, and a 3.5 millimetre headphone jack, which we're always happy to see. The left side features a volume rocker, while the microUSB port is on the right. Finally, on back, you'll find the camera, flash, speaker, and removable battery. The Pre,s display is one of the main highlights of the phone, measuring 3.1 inches diagonally, so it's smaller than the iPhone. The tiny QWERTY keyboard isn't going to draw any praise, nor is the lack of an expansion slot. The lack of a physical keyboard was a big reason why some people chose not to buy the iPhone . However, It can definitely see people with larger thumbs having problems and, unfortunately, there's no onscreen keyboard option at this point.
The phone memory is about7GB, so the contact list is limited and includes fields for multiple number and email ids. With Palm's Synergy feature, the Pre can pull a contact's information from various sources--Facebook, Outlook, Gmail, and automatically fill all the fields in a single contact sheet, so you don't have to manually enter all the data. In addition to numbers and e-mail addresses, Synergy will also attach any photos that are associated with that person's Facebook or e-mail account.
So the absolute gadget freak should have it immediately! The Author "Tom Schavo" is an expert Tech adviser who worked for several multinational companies like General Electric, Verizon, Bellsouth AT&T, Qualcomm and Gillette. Although a professional with rich experience, he quit his position in these companies to finally open up his own Tech consulting forum. He also provides free advise on all the latest gadgets in market and runs a site on Technology News
When purchasing a mobile phone, it is important to research the kind of phone you are considering. There are hundreds of reviews on the internet, but knowing which ones to read can be tricky. Look for ones written by actual users, or by the professional technology reviewers, not the manufacturers websites. Reading realistic reports on the phone models will give you a better picture of what you are going to purchase.
For each article you check, keep in mind that there are plenty of people that post opinions just to have something for people to read. Ignore general put downs or positives, and pay close attention to technical information. This includes things like how easy the interface is for a general user, the size of the keys in proportion to the user, and other specifics. Also look at what features were included, and which features were available to add to the phone. Did the user discuss any features that were standard for the model, or were they only concerned with those that they paid extra to add?
Now it is time to think about what features are important to you individually. Do you need a large print screen and large buttons? Do you plan to do a lot of texting? Do you want to be able to keep track of another phone on your account, using GPS or other information? Some phones can add a navigation system for directions, music download programs, even digital television abilities. Some are just the bare-bones systems that are for minimal use and emergencies only, sometimes called trac phones.
A new feature offered by cell phone companies is the ability to track a phone by GPS. This means that you can locate your child's phone on a map and know exactly where they are at any time. Parent phones can find the location of the phone, view the messages sent and received, and the numbers dialed as well. Child phones can be blocked from dialing certain numbers, and blocked from receiving numbers, or just blocked for certain time periods.
Reviews posted by parents are the most relevant to this service. See if they are discovering that the child is able to unlock the controls, and how easy it is to see that they have done so. Matching these possibilities with your service plan is vital to avoiding huge bills that surprise you at the end of the month.
Speaking of the bills each month, look for posted opinions on service plans as well. Is it easy to change the plan mid-month, or is it only available to change after the next billing cycle? If you are signing a contract, is the pay out for early cancellation reasonable? Look for someone who discusses the ease of closing their account, and if the company tried to reconcile the problem before turning off the service.
When you determine the kind of device you want to buy, look up the specifics on it. Do consumers report that they are satisfied with the product or are they disappointed? Find out if the technology lives up to the hype, and find information from sources that have actually experienced the service. This will tell you if the price is right for what you are expecting.
About the Author:
It's important to look around for different mobile phone reviews when selecting a new handset. Choosing a mobile phone will be much easier with opinions from an expert.