LG Optimus 2x (P990)

It made news, and heck, the Guinness Book of World Records, as the world’s first smartphone with a dual core processor. And it is also LG’s boldest step into the high-end smartphone segment in recent times, with respectable hardware built around aforementioned chip, leading many to predict that it would emerge as a contender (to quote Brando, Marlon) among the many high-profile devices – the Galaxy S2 and the iPhone 4, to mention just two – that are expected in the Indian market in the coming days. But does the LG Optimus 2X (or the P990, to give it its proper moniker) deliver on its innards and almost Dickensian Great Expectations? We have been using it for a few days now. Hit the jump to get our pennyworth.

MSI cuts corners, launches sub-Rs 15,000 Android tablets

MSI, the Taiwanese tablet maker, has launched its Enjoy series of tablets in India. The two tablets Enjoy 7 (with a 7-inch display) and Enjoy 10 (with a 10-inch display) are based on Android 2.3.3 aka Gingerbread. Not only are these tablets super affordable with price tags of Rs 13,999 and 14,999 respectively, MSI also claims them to be ‘the lightest tablets in India.’ Neither of the tablets have 3G connectivity and the specs sheet claim a battery life of just 4-5 hours. The tablets are up for sale on various retail chains, plus you can also order one online. Jump the break to check out the tech-sheet of MSI’s Enjoy series of tablets. Features- •Based on 1.2Ghz ARM Cortex A8 processor •7-inch 800 x 480 pixels (16:9), 10-inch 1024 x 768 (4:3) pixels display with multi-touch capability •Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connectivity •Adobe Flash 10.1 support •Dual cameras •512MB RAM •Accelerometer, E-Compass, Ambient Light Sensor •4GB internal storage space •mini-USB, mini-HDMI, 3.5 mm audio jack •Expandable memory up to 32GB •Battery life 4-5 hours •Weight: 395 grams for Enjoy 7 and 795 grams for Enjoy 10

Apple releases iOS 5 beta 5

Apple has just released iOS 5 beta 5 for developers. While the update continues the tradition of bringing OTA updates to iOS devices, beta 5 will require your device to be erased before being able to update — a little frustrating, though it’s obviously not meant for the general public. Apple also released an updated iTunes 10.5 beta 5 and Apple TV beta 4. •I have noticed the ability to send a photo from the camera roll directly to the Messages app for iMessage or MMS, additionally the inclusion of a camera button in the camera roll to skip back to the camera after viewing a photo. •The terrible autocorrect algorithm seems to have been fixed.

Tata Indicom launches BlackBerry data plans at Rs 99/month

Tata Indicom has launched new BlackBerry data plans starting at just Rs 99 per month. Tata Indicom users can now enjoy BlackBerry Messaging Services(MaiLite), BlackBerry Internet Service and BlackBerry Enterprise Server plans at Rs 99, Rs 199 and Rs 599 respectively for the first three months after which standard monthly tariffs of Rs 299, Rs 399 and Rs 999 shall be applicable. Jump the break to find out more about these new plans. The Tata Indicom BlackBerry MaiLite plan @ 99 offers support for 10 e-mail accounts along with BBM service (BlackBerry Messenger). The Tata Indicom BlackBerry Internet Service plan @ Rs 199 also offers access to 10 e-mail accounts along with BBM, social networking and internet browsing. The Tata Indicom BlackBerry Enterprise Server plan @ Rs 599 includes all the above mentioned services along with access to corporate data and tight integration with IBM Lotus Domino, Microsoft Exchange or Novell GroupWise

Skype for iPad now available on the App Store

Skype for iPad is finally available for a free download from the App Store. After displeasing numerous users worldwide by first putting the app for a short while before yanking it off the store, Apple and Skype have finally restored the app on the App Store and can be downloaded from here. Users can do instant messaging while video calling, a feature not available in Skype for iPhone app apart from sending text messages. Apple iPad 2 users can switch between the front and rear cameras in a call. And yeah, users will be able to use Skype over 3G too. Hit the break for a quick demo of Skype running on an iPad.

India’s first MeeGo netbook – the Samsung N100

All right, the press release runs the headline “Smasung Launches the Super Light N100 Netbook,” but for us, the line that really counted came much lower down. It read: “The device includes Intel’s innovative MeeGo™ operating system…”. No reference to Nokia there, but the stark fact is that India has got its first MeeGo netbook, although the release hastens to point out that DOS and Windows versions are also available. In terms of hardware, the netbook tips the scales at a very light 1.03 kg, has a 10.1 inch LED display, a dual core Intel Atom processor (N435, 1.33 GHz), Intel GMA 3150 graphics, 1GB RAM and 250 GB storage. Of course, we know not much about how MeeGo will work on the netbook, although the release talks of a fast boot-up and “easy access to online and offline contents,…social networks can be viewed at a glance,” but we must confess to being impressed by the price – Rs 12, 290, which makes it one of the most affordable netbooks out there from a major brand. Needless to say, we are curious as hell to see how MeeGo works on a netbook meant to run it (we ran an earlier version on our Asus eeePC, with mixed results).

Motorola Defy is in smartphone race

Motorola Defy Price: Rs.15399 Key Features •Smart Sensors For An Intutive Media Experience •Swype Texting Support •Splash & Dust Proof Chassis •Can Serve As A 3G Mobile Hotspot For Upto 5 Devices •Scratch & Impact Resistant Gorilla Glass Display The Motorola Defy is a full touch phone that runs on Android OS 2.1 - Eclair (Upgradable to OS 2.2 Froyo). The mobile phone has a TI OMAP 3610 800 MHz processor with 512 MB RAM. The Defy is a sturdy phone with dustproof, water and scratch resistant features. Imaging and video is taken care of by a 5 megapixel camera with auto focus and LED Flash features. The camera can record VGA videos at 30 fps. Additional features attributed to the camera include white balance and anti banding, with ability to digitally zoom up to 5x. Design The capacitive touchscreen of the mobile is fitted with a Corning Gorilla Glass which lends it the feature of being impact and scratch resistant. The 3.7-inch TFT display screen has resolution of 480 x 854 pixels. Weighing 118 g, the Motorola Defy has dimensions of 107 x 59 x 13.4 mm. The screen of the Android device can be rotated in three ways, thanks to the accelerometer. Other sensors loaded into the mobile phone are magnetometer, proximity and ambient light sensors. Storage and Battery This Motorola handset ships with 1.25 GB internal memory and a pre-installed microSD card which brings another 2 GB memory on board. Further an external microSD card can be used to increase the memory to a maximum of 32 GB. The Defy uses a Li-Po 1540 mAh battery that serves talk time of maximum 6.7 hours. Internet and Connectivity For connectivity, the Motorola Defy has Bluetooth and USB. Internet access on the phone is made available by GPRS, EDGE, 3G and Wi-Fi. The handset features Android WebKit browser with Adobe Flash Lite support. Location services are provided by A-GPS and e-Compass. The Crystal Talk Plus feature filters background noise and enhances user voice. The mobile also has access to Google maps and Android market.

Android Mobile Phone and Its Advantages

If you have not heard of Android mobile phones, you are missing out on the very best of mobile technology. These mobile phones have features and capabilities that are far superior compared to regular mobile phones. Once you experience using these phones, you will never go back to the conventional. What are the disadvantages of using conventional mobile phones? One is the limited options for customization. You are restricted to default themes, and you can barely switch around pages to what better suits you. Another disadvantage is web compatibility. There are a lot of websites that you will be able to access on a PC, but not on conventional mobile phones. The last disadvantage is speed and efficiency. These outdated phones give you little options to multitask and make use of customized mobile applications. These disadvantages make them boring and frustrating to use. With Android phones, it is no longer the same case. When it comes to mobile applications, any mobile app that you download from the Android market is compatible with these phones. This simply means that there is a lot of room for customization. You can now make the phone more your own. When it comes to power, Android mobile phones come with power you never thought possible on mobile phones. They even rival the speed of some consumer electronics like smaller notebooks. This simply means that you get the power of laptops with these phones. With this much power and efficiency, it will be easy to multitask. You can run an assortment of mobile applications and the phone will never leave you hanging. Android enabled cell phones are undoubtedly one of the best things to have happened in recent times as far as technological advancements are concerned. As a matter of fact, Android phones have managed to become the top choice for cell phone users in a very short span of time. So what are Android mobile phones all about? Considered to be the best of mobile technology, Android mobile phones use the open source software Google Android as an operating system as well as platform. The capabilities and features of these mobile phones are far more superior as they use software Android in contrast to others which run primitive real time applications. Like this, there are a host of other advantages that are associated with Android mobile phones. Let's take a look at some of the advantages that give Android cell phones an edge over the conventional ones. • Power - As far as power is concerned, these phones come with power that was simply unthinkable of previously. So much so that they can also rival the speed of smaller notebooks. Therefore with these phones, you can get the power of laptops. With such an amount of efficiency and power, it becomes easier to multitask as well. • Applications- Certainly one of the best aspects of these kinds of phones. When it comes to mobile applications, the user has the unique ability to choose from a wide range of application as well as customize the Google Android platform. Any downloaded mobile application from the Android market is compatible with such phones. This gives the customers an opportunity to personalize their handsets. Some of the features that can be customized are the opening screen, RSS feeds and weather details. Even the opening screen icons can be easily customized on Android mobile phones. • Capable of running all websites - Unlike some conventional mobile phones in which there are often web compatibility problems, Android phones are capable of running all the various websites that can be run on PCs. Whether it is a search engine inquiry, accessibility of social networks, email...you can enjoy all your favorite websites anytime without facing any difficulties. This is has been mainly possible due to its HTML5 compatibility. In addition to this, these phones are also capable of supporting broadband internet which is based on 3G networks. With such amazing features it's more like a computer that you can easily fit in your pocket.

iphone 4 review

The iPhone 4 is the culmination of years of refining Apple’s iPhone line of products.One by one, Apple has improved features and the latest iteration enhances a number of important elements like display, camera (with Flash), dual-microphone, larger battery and multi-tasking – just to cite a few.The design itself has been updated to use steel and aluminosilicate glass, which is ultra-resistant to scratches (but not shocks). The new antenna design has been generating a ton of controversy recently because of interferences caused by the contact between the user’s hand and the phone itself. So, how bad is it? I will tell you what works and what doesn’t, without sugar-coating or politics. Let’s dive in. Technical Highlights OS : iOS 4 Display :3.5″ LCD IPS 640×960 512MB RAM Memory :16GB of internal storage Camera : 5 Megapixel camera Connectivity :Wifi b/g/n, BT 2.1+EDR, aGPS No Radio Connect : via iPhone connector Apple A4 processor: You will see a ton of articles saying that both the iPhone 4′s A4 processor and the iPhone 3GS Samsung processor are based on an ARM Cortex A8 design – this keep coming, and coming… Well, that’s true, but it means… *nothing*. As I have said before, smartphone chips are pretty much the equivalent of a PC motherboard, complete with CPU, GPU, RAM and other co-processors. The CPU, the Cortex A8 is one among many blocks within the chip. Telling you that a PC has a Core i5 processor doesn’t tell you much about it s overall capabilities – it’s the same for the smartphone chip. Maybe it has a few dedicated co-processors that make video and 3D graphics zippy. Or maybe the bus linking all the parts is super fast and let data flow freely. Or maybe the individual blocks have been designed to be shut down at any moment to save more power. “Based on an ARM Cortex A8″ tells you none of that, so in the future, just discard that stuff when you see it. What you’re buying is the overall experience anyway.

samsung galaxy s2

Samsung's first generation Galaxy S flagship smartphone, and the myriad variants it spawned, helped drive Samsung to the top of the heap in the Android world. It was fast, had a great display, and offered a solid user experience in general. Samsung's second time at bat, however, promises bigger and better things. The new Samsung Galaxy S II is even larger, yet much thinner, and features a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display and well over twice the processing power of the original. With HSPA+ data support, slick new user interface features, and Google's Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS, the Galaxy S II establishes a new high-water mark that will force all other devices to scramble to stay afloat. Samsung Galaxy S2 that will have super AMOLED screen, is finally here and every one seems to be very excited due to its great features and stunning look. Another good thing that will entice many fans of this hotly awaited smart phone is the fact that the product will be available unlocked. The smart phone from Samsung’s Galaxy variant is expected to be priced at US$ 699.99 and its unlocked variant is expected to be available on Amazon for sale. But despite the euphoria surrounding its launch, we have reports that suggest that Amazon is still just taking orders for the unlocked Android smart phone from Samsung and it is actually not shipping them right now. The shipping date is expected to be between a month and three months depending on the location. Sprint meanwhile is going to sell the super Android phone from Samsung in July. Though details are still shrouded in mystery and not clear, the price is still to be made clear by Sprint Nextel. Many tech experts have called the latest offer from Samsung as iPhone 4 killer. But we heard similar claims in the past. Nonetheless the reviews from tech pundits are very encouraging for the company To be true Samsung’s Galaxy S2 scores heavily over iPhone 4. It sports an 8mega pixel camera besides a 2 megapixel front camera. It also says that the phone can make full HD video that is not with iPhone 5. Besides its very light and weighs just about 100 grams. It uses 4.3 touch-screen. The phone is expected to be among the costliest phone and the company may not offer big discounts as it used to do in the past. The success of different galaxy smart phone seems to have emboldened the South Korean tech giant that is the second largest mobile phone manufacturer behind only Nokia. The Android smartphone will run on a 1GHz dual-core processor and will have 16/32 of GB storage options. It will have 1GB RAM and will use Google’s latest Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system