PHONES

TOP THREE TABLETS OF 2012

Apple iPad mini: Apple's miniature tablet is to top many Christmas wish-list this season, but that shouldn't come as a surprise. The mini has some impressive features. At 308g it is typing friendly, it has an IPS LCD Display. It comes in two colors: black and slate/ white and silver- 16, 32 and 64GBvariants.

Google Nexus 7: The Asus produced Nexus 7 is proved to be very popular when released  this summer. It runs the latest version of Android, the Jelly Bean, which  adds new features-like Gesture Typing and more Google apps: Google Play Books, Music etc. It is powered by a Quad-Core Nvidia Tegra 3, which is impressive for a small and affordable tablet. It is available in 16 and 32GB storage variants.

Microsoft Surface: The launch of surface has marked Microsoft's foroy into tablet production. An impressive hybrid tablet billed as a happy device between tablet and notebook. It also comes with a smart cover that offers a full touch keyboard (spill - resistant) . It comes in 32 and 64gb models , with a micro SD card slot  for an additional 64gb space.
  
  HUAWEI ASCEND D2
     In late October, in China, Huawei announced its first phablet-Ascend  D2. At that time Huawei did not release the key specs of the device. 
     GLBenchmark came to save the day confirming the chip-set and screen specs. It has a 5" LCD full HD display same display size with the HTC  DROID DNA. Its is powered by a Quad-Core chip of 1.5GHz.
     It runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and Huawei's Emotion UI. A 13MP camera and the device is also being rumored to be dust and water proof.


MICROSOFT SURFACE
     The Microsoft Surface has to be something special to compete with Android and Apple Tabs. A smart keyboard dock costs an extra €100 and it lets the Surface double as a laptop. Only the 64GB has it in the bundle. Is it going to be glorified or its going to be turned down? Lets review and explore the surface.
Here are sme main Features/Advantages:

• 10.6'' HD touchscreen, 1366 x 768 pixels
• Dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity with Wi-Fi Direct
• Quad Core 1.3Ghz processor
• 2GB RAM
• Windows 8RT with Skydrive support
• 32/64GB versions
• Micro SDSX port
• 31.5Wh battery
• Accelerometer, compass and thee-axis qyro-sensor
• Built-In kickstand

    
 
     Its ARM based Tegra 3 chip-set is the same type of processor ticking inside most smartphones and handheld devices. Windows RT comes with some benefits of a Windows environment.
They include:

• Desktop Mode
• Microsoft Office(similar to Windows 8 counterpart)
• Re-Designed 'Start' interface 

    Windows RT can only run applications from Windows Store. So therefore, programs typically used on Windows laptops and desktops are not compatible. The surface also has expanded storage(not guaranteed on all tablets
      
HUAWEI ASCEND W1

Real life photos of the Huawei Ascend W1 show the device in the flesh, revealing it'll be available in two color options - white and blue.

While specifications are yet to be officially confirmed, the Ascend W1 is rumored to pack a 4" WVGA display and a 1.2GHz dual-core Krait processor. The device is also said to feature a 2000mAh battery and NFC capability. At the back, there's a 5MP snapper, too.

LA FLEUR Galaxy S III, S Duos, Ace 2 and Ace Duos

The La Fleur brand is no news for Samsung. It’s been doing those editions since the end of 2009. The limited-edition phones are not quite widespread or famous, but they've usually enjoyed good reception from the ladies out there.
So here come the new La Fleur phones, all of them running on Android OS – the Galaxy S III, Galaxy S Duos, Galaxy Ace Duos and Galaxy Ace 2.


All of them will come in the usual colors – white or pink with some additional flower decoration on both sides of the phone.
In case you are eyeing one of those, you’ll be happy to learn they’ll be released by the end of January just in time for the Valentine's day shopping decisions.

NEXUS 7 vs iPad Mini
 

Apple's foray into the 7-inch tablet market with the launch of the 7.9-inch iPad Mini steamed the already brittle battle between the mini-pad likes of Amazon’s Kindle, Nook and HTC One X.

Apple’s drive to follow Google’s trend and venture into the new market simple reveals that the future points towards mini pad as possible replacement for smartphones and viable challenge for the tablet market with increasing demand for portable, powerful and all-in-one device model.

The iPad Mini, in almost every way is packed with specifications that match that of the iPad 2 thus presenting the device as a very powerful productivity tool. On the other hand, Google's Nexus 7 is rated the best 7-inch Android-powered tablet been belled by Google's latest mobile operating system.

Design: Is 7-Inch Ideal?

7-inch tablet devices are touch-screen devices with a display measuring between 7.0 - 7.9 inches diagonally. 7-inch tablet is just pocketable and easily allows for single hand operations; whereas the slightly bigger 7.9 inches like Apple's iPad mini pushes the limit and in-effect may present some difficulties when it comes to single hand operations and comfort of fitting into pant pockets.

Nexus 7 tend to be easier to hold but the iPad Mini has a bigger screen. This now comes down to preference and the purpose for which the mini tablet is required, however, for leisure around the house, the iPad Mini's larger display offers an idea tool.

But for a more mobile working experience, Nexus 7 presents a better comfort zone in terms of size and weight.

 

Software: iOS 6 vs. Jelly Bean

Apple's latest iOS 6 cores the iPad mini,the operating system comes with over 200 new features. Apple's ecosystem of computer devices also makes it easy to synchronize the iPad Mini with other devices giving room for remote backup of the tablet's memory.
iOS 6 features an enhanced notification center and a more useful Siri. The replacement of Google Maps with Apple Maps presented an unfinished service which left lots of Apple devotees frustrated with its location service applications.

Nexus 7 has 4.1(4.2 update now available) Jelly Bean Android OS belle; it features an integrated notification center and electronic assistant as well as hundreds of thousands of apps through Google Play. With the project butter effect the OS tends to improve the VSync; this set the frame rate for the entire OS at 60 frames-per-second thus improving the perception of speed and responsiveness by making everything consistent.

Processing Power vs. Memory Storage

Apple's A5 processor which is a dual core 1GHz processor with 512GB of RAM powers the iPad mini, also available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB with no memory expansion slot like microSD card.

The quad-core processing chip NVidia Tegra 2 T30L processor powers Google's Nexus 7; it features a 1.2GHz ARM Cortex-A9 with 16GB RAM.

Nexus 7’s processor out-performs that of iPad Mini but with 8GB of storage that can be expanded to 16GB.

Display Quality

Apple's mini tablet features the same 1024x768 pixel resolution as the iPad 2 with no Retina Display and 162 pixels per inch (PPI), while Google's Nexus 7 features an impressive 1280x800 pixel resolution and 216 PPI. Both devices feature light sensors and scratch-resistant glass.

HTC DROID DNA
 
     HTC is having a hard time competing at the highest level of the smartphone market lately, but its latest smartphone might be what was needed to turn the tables. The all-caps name of the HTC DROID DNA is, for once, well deserved as this is certainly one of the most exciting smartphones we have seen lately.

     The defining feature of the DROID DNA is the 1080p resolution of the display - that's over double the pixels of an HD screen. This pushes the pixel density to the insane 440ppi, leaving the 326ppi Retina display in the dust. The 5" screen of the HTC DROID DNA uses Super LCD 3 tech - the One X used the previous generation of this tech, so we expect nothing but the best. We'll be taking a closer look at it soon enough as we're at HTC and Verizon's New York event.
     The rest of the phone is nothing to frown at either - it's powered by the same Snapdragon S4 Pro chip-set as the Google Nexus 4, which has four Krait cores, 2GB RAM and Adreno 320 on board. It has wireless charging too.
     It didn't stop there they added some of their signature features to the phone. The latest Sense UI is present, on top of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, but there's also the 8MP camera with F/2.0 aperture and Image-Chip (which handles the advanced camera features) and Beats Audio with their 2.55v amplifier.The only worry is that all of this is running off a 2,020mAh battery, which is smaller than what the HTC One X+ got.



LG OPTIMUS G E970 AND LS970


     With the dust barely settled after the Korean LG Optimus G's run around out review track, we have its LTE packing, US siblings on our hands. The LG Optimus G E970 for AT&T and its LS970 relative for Sprint are the two versions which are offered across the Atlantic. Thankfully, the wait for their arrival wasn't long at all - LG pulled off a launch which looked a lot like what Samsung did with the Galaxy S3 earlier this year.



LG Optimus G E970 and LS970 official photos
     The LG Optimus G E970 and its LS970 relative are slightly different characters. The AT&T version comes with an 8MP camera and a microSD card slot. The Sprint-flavored Optimus G on the other hand, is practically identical to the Korean version, which we have reviewed already. This means that users will enjoy a larger, 13MP camera sensor, but will have to settle for 32GB on non-expandable memory. Most importantly however, both smartphones come with the headline grabbing Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset and two gigs of RAM, which means that, regardless which one they pick, potential users will get to enjoy the most powerful Android hardware around.

FEATURES

• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
• 3G with HSPA; LTE
• CDMA network support (Sprint Wireless version only)
• 4.7"capacitive touchscreen, Gorilla Glass
• Android OS v4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich, planned upgrade to 4.1 Jelly Bean
• Quad-core 1.5 GHz Krait CPU, 2 GB RAM
• 13 MP autofocus camera with LED flash and geotagging, image stabilization, Time catch shot, smart shutter (Sprint version)
• 8 MP autofocus camera with LED (AT&T version)
• 1080p video recording @ 30fps with continuous autofocus and stereo sound
• 1.3 MP front-facing camera, 720p video recording
• Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct and DLNA
• GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS
• 32GB of built-in storage (Sprint version)
• 16GB of built-in storage; microSD card slot with 16GB card preinstalled (AT&T version)
• MHL-enabled microUSB port, USB host support
• Bluetooth v4.0
• Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
• Voice dialing
• Two app overlay mode for multi-tasking (Q Slide)
• Independent multimedia content output through MHL (Dual Screen Dual Play)
• Accelerometer and proximity sensor
• Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic

 UNBOXING
     The AT&T LG Optimus G comes in a box, which carries the wireless provider's colors. Inside, you will find a charger, a USB cable, as well as a 16GB microSD card which has been preinstalled on the device.


     Above the display on both devices, you will find the earpiece, the usual set of hidden sensors, and the 1.3MP video-call camera. There is a small status LED right next to the LG logo on the Sprint version.

The view above the display

     Below the 4.7-inch display we see the familiar layout of capacitive controls: Back, Home and Menu keys. All three of them are haptic-enabled and pleasantly back-lit in white (with a dedicated setting for the back-light duration).

No surprises below the screen

     There is nothing but a volume rocker on the left side of the Sprint LG Optimus G. In the case of the AT&T version, the left side is also home to the microSD and microSIM card slots.

The view on the left

     The power/lock key is on the right side of both devices. In the case of the AT&T version, there's also a cool looking notification light surrounding the key. Its ergonomics are questionable though, as you need to keep an eye on your phone's right side to spot missed events.

The view on the right side

     The 3.5mm audio jack along with the secondary mic are on top.

The view on top of the Sprint and AT&T LG Optimus G

     The bottom hosts the MHL-enabled microUSB port and the primary mic. There are a couple of screws that secure the back too.
 
The bottom of both devices

     On the top left corner of both devices' backs, you will find their camera units, accompanied by LED flashes. The AT&T version sports an 8MP snapper, which, due to its smaller size, does not protrude out of the handset's body. The Optimus G for Sprint on the other hand, comes with the already familiar 13MP unit.

The camera unit size differs significantly in both phones

     There are now surprises at the bottom of the two devices' backs. Both are home to their respective loudspeakers.

The loudspeaker is at the bottom

     The back pattern on both handsets is different. The back cover of the two devices is non-removable - that is to say, not designed to be user removable, but it can probably give in if you undo the screws. Under the cover there is a 2100mAh Li-Po battery, developed by LG, and promising increased lifespan of 800 charge cycles.