Saturday, March 12, 2011

Phones Review

Phones Review

HTC Thunderbolt Release 17th March Confirms Tweet: Quickly Removed

Posted: 12 Mar 2011 06:59 AM PST

The continued speculation on the release date for the much delayed HTC Thunderbolt continues to roll on even when it is becoming quite tiresome, and although there still isn't a confirmed release date for the Android 2.2 Froyo device more word on that release date has hit the net.

This time the HTC Thunderbolt release date was apparently confirmed by a tweet from an HTC regional sales manager according to an article over on Android Does and by way of the guys at Droid-life. So what did this HTC rep tweet?

Here’s what Imran Shahid tweeted…“Are you ready to call down the HTC ThunderBolt? The first 4GLTE Smartphone on the Verizon Wireless network is launching on March 17th! Yes!!”

So there it is from someone you’d think would be privy to the HTC Thunderbolt release date; however apparently the tweet was rapidly removed, so whether we will see the release of the HTC Thunderbolt come the 17th, which by the way is next Thursday remains to be seen.

Just a bit more fuel on that ever burning Thunderbolt release fire, but do you think an HTC regional sales manager would know for definite when the smartphone would be released and confirm that date via Twitter?

Apple iPad 2 Smart Cover Review Video

Posted: 12 Mar 2011 06:40 AM PST

You are no doubt aware that when Apple introduced the Apple iPad 2 they also introduced the new iOS tablet screen protector, the Smart Cover, and we have a quick video review of that Smart Cover for your viewing appraisal below.

The Apple iPad 2 Smart Cover review video comes our way courtesy of Jon Rettinger over at Technobuffalo and delivers a five minutes overview of the new magnetic iPad cover.

The Smart Cover for the Apple iPad 2 utilises magnets to keep the cover in place, and will apparently wake your tablet from sleep when it is removed and return the device to sleep when it is recovered, and with the cover’s micro-fibre lining it ensures the display stays clean.

The Smart Cover also doubles as a prop up for the iOS tablet by folding it back on itself to form a triangle, although the Smart Cover doesn't protect the back surface of the tablet.

So I’ll leave it there and let you make the jump to hit that play button and check out this Smart Cover review video, and if you happen o be already using a Smart Cover on your device feel free to let us know if it works just fine or you have found any problems with the device…enjoy.

HTC Thunderbolt Gains Verizon Conditional Approval: Another Month Maybe

Posted: 12 Mar 2011 04:13 AM PST

Ah what appears to be a never-ending release date for the HTC Thunderbolt on Verizon continues to evade the public, but apparently that long-awaited event is drawing even closer with the latest bit of news on the HTC Thunderbolt.

My Phones Review colleague Mark earlier posted about HTC making an announcement that the HTC Thunderbolt was coming soon via their Facebook and Twitter accounts, and now an article over on Engadget Mobile reports that one of their “trusted sources” says Verizon has now give the Android 2.2 Froyo device their “conditional approval.”

So just what does that “condition approval” mean, according to the guys, theoretically it could mean that the HTC Thunderbolt is immanent although the release apparently depends on Verizon and HTC reaching an agreement on fixes and changes requests on the 1st and 2nd firmware maintenance releases.

Apparently the guys have been informed that this process takes from 2 to 4 weeks, which if true could mean another month may pass before the HTC Thunderbolt is released, on the other hand it could also mean that the Thunderbolt could see release within 2 weeks.

So there it is for what it’s worth, but the big question is will potential HTC Thunderbolt customers continue to wait a further month if it takes that long?

Apple iPad 2 Displays Its Innards

Posted: 12 Mar 2011 03:43 AM PST

The latest iOS tablet out of the Apple camp has only just bolted from the gates and already the Apple iPad 2 has had its screws removed and inner working placed on display for all to see, and apparently done before the tablet was available for purchase.

According to an article over on Ubergizmo, those disassembling guys at iFixit managed to get their hands on the Apple iPad 2 and went about their usual thing of performing a teardown of the iOS tablet.

What the guys found was that there are no more clips holding the front panel in place as the panel is now glued and thus a heat gun was needed, after that the screws weren’t a problem and bingo they were in.

Overall the guys rate the reparability factor of the Apple iPad 2 as four out of ten, with ten being the easiest, and apparently only Philips screws were use and no signs of any of those painful Pentalobular fixings.

So there it is, the second-generation Apple iPad torn asunder, and without too much trouble it would seem, although the guys do state that due to the gluing of the front panel there is an increased chance of cracking the glass.

Verizon HTC Incredible S Gets Pictured

Posted: 12 Mar 2011 03:12 AM PST

The world of mobile technology isn’t just about when the HTC Thunderbolt is going to release on Verizon, the Big Red is expecting other smartphones from the HTC camp as well and one such device is the HTC Incredible S.

And today a few pictures of the Verizon bound HTC Incredible S have made their way onto the net, and we have those images for your consideration courtesy of the guys over at Ubergizmo and by way of Android Spin.

The Android 2.2 Froyo packing HTC Incredible S was showcased during MWC 2011 and given a release scheduled for Q2, and will be upgradeable to Android 2.3 Gingerbread on launch.

Spec wise the HTC Incredible S offers a 4-inch WVGA (qHD) Super LCD display, an 8 megapixel rear camera with flash, a 1.3 megapixel front facing camera, 1GHz processor, and 4GB internal storage.

So is anyone hoping to bypass the HTC Thunderbolt and opt to grab the HTC Incredible S once the device becomes available?

Apple iPad 2 Street Unboxing Video

Posted: 12 Mar 2011 02:45 AM PST

For those that perhaps are still sat on the sideline considering whether to purchase the latest iOS tablet from Apple, the Apple iPad 2, perhaps a little unboxing of the device might sway you one way or the other, so that’s what we have for your viewing pleasure today.

Will Park of Intomobile was at the SXSW conference and festival in Austin Apple iPad 2 launch and simply couldn’t wait to unboxing the new tablet so performed an in the field unboxing right there on the sidewalk.

The Apple iPad 2 street unboxing lasts almost five and a half minutes so that you can see what the white version of the Apple iPad 2 looks like and shows just how thin the device is, actually thinner than the iPhone 4.

Although the Apple iPad 2 isn’t a huge revolutionary jump from the original Apple iPad, the device does offer enough new features to pull in the customers, which I’m sure you already know about.

So I’ll leave it there and let you skip on down to check out the Apple iPad 2 uboxed on the street footage, and of course if you now own one feel free to voice your opinions on Apple’s latest piece of tech to our comments area below…enjoy.

So, Just What Is The Smart Phone Grip Of Death

Posted: 12 Mar 2011 02:20 AM PST

After the launch of the iPhone 4 in June 2010, many of its’ users became savvy to the occurrence in the electronics world known as the “Smart Phone grip of death”.

This phrase refers to a phenomenon that happens when the phone user simply holds their phone in such a manner that it in turn causes a dramatic drop in signal strength, ironic since the original concept of a cell phone was to allow the user to carry a portable communication device with them wherever they wanted to go.

Since this causes a major hiccup in the design and purpose of the smartphone, how can one avoid falling victim to this flaw? The first way to beat the grip of death is to understand exactly what it is.

What exactly causes the Smart Phone grip of death?

Before getting into the details of what the Smart phone grip of death actually is, it is important to note that even though the problem was outlined widely by the launch of the iPhone 4, any Smart phone that has an antenna located in a similar location to the Apple product is at risk.

The issue begins when the phone user's thumb obstructs the antenna located typically on the lower portion of the phone. When this action takes place, the thumb disrupts the electrical field of the antenna, thus impairing the clear ability to send and receive signals. The main reason for this is that flesh is conductive and even more so when the skin is moist or oily.

The issue has become so well known among the smart phone community that certain operating systems, Blackberry for example, have actually created apps aptly titled something similar to "Death Grip Meter" which is, in all actuality, an app that measures your antenna signal strength.

What can be done to prevent a loss of signal?

One of the first things that Apple did to resolve the iPhone issue was to provide a “bumper case” that was allegedly a way to reduce the friction between the antenna and the phone user's skin.

The idea was that by placing a barrier between the metal casing and the user's thumb, the electrical field would not be disrupted. These bumper cases were originally released shortly after the problem came to Apple’s attention, at which time they offered them for free to those who had purchased the iPhone 4.

With the release of the iPhone 4 on the Verizon market, Apple made a few tweaks to avoid any further issues. First, they modified the antenna and shuffled the antenna notches. Instead of the usual 3 notches, two on the bottom corners and one up top by the headphone jack, there are now a total of 4, the new one being on the upper left corner. Another modification that has been made is that there is no longer a MicroSIM card slot built into the antenna.

Perhaps a more simple way to avoid the death grip is to simply be conscious of how the phone is held. Most problems occur when the user holds the phone with their left hand, placing his/her thumb towards the bottom left corner of the phone. Some people may find it easier to simply switch hands; others may not find this to be all that comfortable.

As a reminder, even though the publicity for the smart phone grip of death centered primarily on the iPhone 4, it is important to keep in mind that any phone created with a similar design could be prone to this problem. The best defense against the grip of death is research!

This article was written by Samantha Bull, an expert in the Smartphones category at www.yoexpert.com

HTC Thunderbolt Facebook & Twitter Messages: Be Patient Debuts Soon

Posted: 12 Mar 2011 02:01 AM PST

For all those waiting on the new HTC Thunderbolt smartphone on Verizon there could be a light at the end of the tunnel according to a Facebook status message via HTC.

The HTC Facebook message says that there is a lot of excitement about the first Verizon LTE device, the HTC ThunderBolt. HTC and Verizon will officially and publicly announce the Thunderbolt launch dates soon. Please stay tuned for the debut of this great new device. Check out the FB page here.

We also visited HTC's Twitter status and it says thanks for your excitement! HTC and Verizon will officially announce the Thunderbolt launch dates soon.

That is all we have for the moment but mark our words we will bring you the official release date as soon as we know, we have emailed both Verizon and HTC but we are guessing they are locked in a cupboard somewhere trying to decide what release date would be best.

We would hazard a guess on either March 17 or March 24 seeing as Verizon normally releases products on a Thursday.

Official HTC Thunderbolt Websites – HTC and Verizon
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