Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF 101: The Review

The Asus Tablet is the most understated among all the android tablets in the market. The Asus Eee Pad is here to make a statement around that “you can ignore us but can never stay away from us”. As 2011 comes to an end, I would like to state what all of us have been aware of throughout the year: Android has made every manufacturer and user crazy for it. So what should we as buyers and they as makers do to have something unique in whatever we buy or whatever they sell?

The Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF 101 comes with such noteworthy functionality. The first thing that catches the eyes is the detachable keyboard. So, have a pad while travelling and convert it into a notebook while at desk. Isn’t that amazing?

Built upon a dual core Nividia Tegra 2 processor and Android 3.0 honeycomb, the Asus EEE pad tablet fascinates us with its intrinsic design and that’s what we are looking for when we have so many honeycomb devices around.  

We can always spend a few more dollars to get the hands on the keyboard dock for this beautiful baby.

All the specifications are quiet similar to every other android tablet but let us sum up the specifications of EEE pad in a jiffy.

Network Support	N/A
Display	1280 by 800 pixels touch screen
Internal Data	16/32 GB based on the model
Connectivity	WiFi, Bluetooth, USB 2.0
Primary Camera	5 MP
Secondary Camera	1.3 MP frontal camera for video chat
OS	Android 3.0
CPU	1 GHz Dual Core processor

                          

The 10.1” screen is mesmerizing and can compete with your usual HD screens of laptops.

The drawbacks which I found were: unavailability of SIM Card slot (so not 2G or 3G connectivity). So you need to be wirelessly connected with data using a WiFi provider otherwise what you will have in your hand will be just a movie player or a psp.

The Asus EEE pad price details: around $500 for just a tablet and $750 for the tablet with keypad dock.

GG’s Tablet Rating:  *** stars.

Other tablets reviewed by GG:  Sony Tablet S, Archos 70 Tab

Posted on 9:24 PM / 0 comments / Read More

HTC Sensation: An Ice Cream Sandwich Upgrade

All you, an HTC Sensation owner, your wait seems to be over now. A video is making rounds in the internet, demonstrating the Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade on HTC Sensation. The video also shows the latest edition of Sense UI, version 3.5. 

More than boasting on the android 4.0 update, the HTC video depicts more of Sense 3.5 upgrade. Ice Cream Sandwich seems to be eaten up by Sense 3.5.

The tech pundits feel that by the time the upgrade hits it users, Sense 4.0 will make its way through, hence making the HTC users experience a beautiful combo of UI design and Ice Cream Sandwich’s flavor!

HTC Sensation’s Specs

Network Support	2G, 3G, 4G (in making)
Screen Resolution	540 by 960 pixels, a 4.3 inch display
Touch	Supported by HTC Sense 3.0 UI
Internal Memory	1 GB
Expandable Memory	32 GB
Connectivity	Bluetooth, GPRS, Edge & WiFi
Primary Camera	8 MP, with LED Flash
Secondary Camera	VGA for video calling
CPU	1.2 GHz dual core
RAM	768 MB
Interfaces	3.5mm audio jack, micro USB
OS	Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)

GG’s News Rating: *** stars

More gadget news @ GG

More Android 4.0 news @  4.0 @ GG

Posted on 12:18 AM / 0 comments / Read More

MOTOROLA XYBOARD 8.2: Not Impressive at all!

The new Motorola tablet which is an addition to its previous versions is the Motorola Droid Xyboard 8.2, a modified edition of its predecessor, Verizon Motorola Xyboard 10.1.

Verizon Moto Android devices are marketed as gadgetry of future and the same is with Xyboard 8.2. The 8.2 inch device has a 1280 by 800 pixels screen. The best feature is the tablet’s portability. It is easy to hold and carry. Seriously speaking, I found it much more comfortable than the other tabs in market, including Motorola Xoom in the list.

When we talk about Moto, there is no need to talk about the looks. The designers have achieved the benchmark in making all the droids look like super gadgets. Xyboard 8.2 fits in the same category. The metal body with all the edges coated with soft material provides an inevitable touch and feel experience. The primary camera (5 MP), power button and volume buttons are located at the back. The frontal VGA cam can be used for video chat. 

It is a tab compatible with 4G technology so connectivity is not at all an issue for it. Xyboard is built upon Android’s Honeycomb version with lots of additional software offerings from Motorola. It is just a better version of Xyboard 10.1.

I still remain unanswerable to the query that why Xyboard makers didn’t overcome some of the previous flaws in 10.1. The 8.2 costs are still on the higher side (around $500 for 16Gb model) and it still lacks a removable battery and a memory card slot.

Why would anyone prefer it above Kindle Fire?   

GG’s Product Rating: ** stars

Posted on 9:47 PM / 0 comments / Read More

Comwave VOIP Services: Now For Blackberry Users

Comwave voip internet phone service developed for smart phones has entered the Blackberry applications store after winning millions of android and iphone users with their rate cutter comwave long distance calls service. The internet phone service has helped people across 57 countries to stay in touch without hampering their daily budgets.

The cheap phone service is available in the Blackberry Apps Store and is stretched across the users in US and Canada for just $30/year. The blackberry users can the comwave phone service to make calls to the 57 countries including US and Canada.

The $30 price gives you the ability to:

• Change Caller ID
• Make 250 local as well as long distance calls per month for a year.
• No monthly charges brought down on the customers.

The application can be downloaded by the iphone users from itunes and by android users from the android market.

Located in Canada, Comwave is a voice over internet Phone Company. Its application can be downloaded for free from http://www.comwave.net/mobile.

Posted on 10:12 AM / 0 comments / Read More

Samsung Captivate Glide: The REVIEW

There is a cloud of touch screen phones all around. But we can’t forget there is still a lot which is fascinated with the QWERTY keypads. To suffice the demands of this lot, mobile phone producers have been continuously experimenting with a dual offering in a single pack; a QWERTY TOUCH SCREEN mobile device. Samsung Captivate Glide is an addition to the great combo of touch screen phones with horizontal slide out QWERTY keypads. It is the most awaited dual core 1 GHz processor device in the android mobile market.

Captivate Glide flaunts the same screen which gave Samsung Galaxy S the lift amongst others. The 4 inch Super Amoled unit along with the WVGA resolution was is and will remain irresistible.  The CPU is an NVIDIA Tegra 2 with 1 GB RAM. So speed is no longer any issue.

Let us have a complete view of Samsung Captivate Glide’s specs:

OS	Android 3.5
Camera	8 MP Primary Cam with LED Flash, 1.3 MP front CAM for video calls.
Network support	3G , 2G
GPS Support	Yes
Internal Memory	8 GB
External Memory	Expandable up to 32 GB
Connectivity	WiFi, Bluetooth
Interface	3.5 mm audio jack, micro USB port, TV-out
Office Support	Exchange Active Sync

As can be observed Captivate Glide doesn’t look to have any big disadvantages. But all is in the package. So a deliberate effort can lend us a few drawbacks of this beautiful device too. For me, one single thing was a little irritating and that was the absence of a camera button. But this can be ignored when we have so many other features which are incomparable.

So, GG proudly gives Samsung Captivate Glide a **** ½ star review.

Bring it on Samsung; bring more of such wonderful gadgets!

Previous Linked Reviews and News: Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Android 4.0: Ice Cream Sandwich

Posted on 7:27 AM / 0 comments / Read More

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

Google has a special affection towards desserts! At least the Android versions suggest it.

Starting from Cupcake (Android 1.5) to Gingerbird (Android 2.3) and the latest globally available Honeycomb (Android 3), the legacy seems to continue with the Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0).

Right now only Samsung Nexus beholds the rights to provide you a delicious treat of Ice Cream Sandwich but in a few months, all of us can be free tasters of this fiesta.

The improvements in this upgrade:

Speech Recognition: Now this was something where Android was a big let down when compared with iPhone. In its 4.0 version, android offers a competitive support for speech to text making it easier for the users to dictate the phone what they want to be mailed or texted. Keep talking and be careful to mention the punctuations that you want to be present so that the phone puts them properly at the place. Wonderful, what more can I say!

Face Recognition: Ice Cream Sandwich turns your idle phone alive when the phone’s camera sees your face. Isn’t it something we really wanted to have? My laptop does this and now my phone can too.

Data Usage Tracker: There will be no need to keep on checking with your service provided about how much data have you used. This will be done by the 4.0 system. A big advantage for all of us who want to be connected throughout the day!

Tap to Share: Android Beam in your Ice Cream Sandwich device helps you to just tap with your friend’s android device and share what you want him to experience. The NFC chip support helps your devices to get connected without any Bluetooth or WiFi.

There are more of such improvisations in Android 4.0 but you will have to wait for it for some more months, till you can purchase a phone or tablet with it or can upgrade your current version if your device supports Ice Cream Sandwich.

Google never lacks in giving its users a flavorsome bite and this version of android is yummy than all its previous releases.   

Posted on 6:11 AM / 0 comments / Read More

7 Inched Kindle Fire and Nook: Can they overtake the 10 inched Tabs?

The dominant presence of Kindle Fire and Nook in the Tablet market has increased the demand of a 7 inch display rather than the orthodox 9.7 inch. This news is supported by the latest report which originated from Asia. 

Digitimes reports that the demand of 7 inch tablets has increased by 17 percent every month. These numbers are far superior to what we have for the 9.7 inchers.

Meanwhile Amazon’s reports suggest that Kindle Fire is one of its best sellers and the sales figures have an exponential rise on a weekly basis.

Nook is on a high with an order of a million Tabs for the Barnes & Noble. This order is anticipated to be delivered by the end of fourth quarter.

Apple iPad’s next generation propaganda can be considered to be the one which caused the major let down in the 9.7 inched panels.

Let us wait for the new version of iPad to hit markets. It is expected to arrive by March and according to the curiosity waves, it will surely be greeted with an excellent response.  

 GG's news rating: *** 

Posted on 10:24 PM / 0 comments / Read More