Though they share a similar design and OS, it's hard to say that the Intercept is Sprint's replacement for the Samsung Moment. The Intercept runs a newer version of Android OS and it drops the heavy dose of Samsung TouchWiz software but it gets a lower resolution, non-AMOLED display in the process. The Intercept targets first time smartphone buyers and those who don't want to spend big bucks on a phone but would like to play with Android. The Intercept has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, a 3.2 megapixel camera, an 800MHz CPU, a GPS that works with Google Maps, 3G, Sprint TV and stereo Bluetooth. It's available in two colors: pink and gray.
It's no surprise that iPad cases are popping up like weeds after a summer rain. We've picked through a bunch of them to find some that offer a great fit, solid protection and a heap of style. In this roundup, we take a look at Speck's forever plaid rigid case, iSkin's soft silicone Duo case and Proporta's Maya II pouch.
Not into the touch screen craze? Just want a solid 3G messaging phone? The eco-friendly Samsung Restore is a full-featured messaging phone with EV-DO, Sprint TV, Sprint Navigation, the Netfront web browser and a solid music player that handles MP3 and AAC iTunes format music. The Restore has a roomy slide-out QWERTY keyboard, but when closed it looks like a normal candy bar phone with a standard number pad. It has a GPS, 2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth with stereo support and an SDHC microSD card slot. A nice mid-tier offering from Sprint and Samsung.
The Acer Ferrari One is an 11.6" netbook with more get up and go. In the grand scheme of mobile computing, it's more Miata than Ferrari, and sits somewhere between a netbook and a notebook. Beyond the glossy, flamboyant famous red racer appointments that include that signature color, four aggressive tread tires that buffer the laptop as it pulls up on your desk and race car startup sounds, the Acer pulls ahead of the netbook pack with its higher resolution 1366 x 768 display, dual core AMD CPU with ATI 3200 graphics and 4 gigs of RAM standard If you're looking for an ultraportable that won't crash and burn playing YouTube and Hulu, and dig the "look at me!" vibe, the Ferrari One is worth a look.
T-Mobile USA's first superphone is here (we don't count the RIP Nexus One since T-Mo didn't sell it in their stores or on their website). This is T-Mobile's version of Samsung's Galaxy S, and the carrier has left it virtually unchanged. It sports the same iPhone 3GS-like design, is virtually bloatware-free and T-Mobile has added a few goodies like the movie Avatar, Kindle, The Sims 3 in 3D glory and more. The Vibrant, like its sibling the Captivate on AT&T, has a 1GHz Hummingbird CPU with PowerVR GPU and it's fast. Other goodies include 16 gigs of internal storage, a strong 5 megapixel camera, 3G HSDPA 7.2Mbps, GPS, Bluetooth and WiFi. The Vibrant runs Android 2.1 with Samsung's TouchWiz 3.0 enhancements.
AT&T's first high end Android smartphone qualifies as a superphone. The Captivate is AT&T's version of the Samsung Galaxy S, and it features a fantastic 4" capacitive multi-touch Super AMOLED display with mind-boggling colors, a 1GHz Hummingbird CPU, 16 gigs of internal storage and Android OS 2.1 with Samsung TouchWiz 3.0. Other goodies include a good 5 megapixel autofocus camera that can shoot HD video, a GPS that works with Google Maps and AT&T Navigator, Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi and a micro SD card slot. We like. No, it's not perfect, but Samsung's first high end Android phone can definitely compete with the big guys.
Amazon's second generation large screen reader is the first to incorporate the new Pearl E Ink display with 50% higher contrast. Yes, you can see the difference and blacks are blacker, making it easier to read in low light. The 9.7" DX Graphite is otherwise much the same as the DX it replaces, but the price is much lower. The Kindle DX Graphite has free 3G wireless for book shopping, periodical delivery and basic web surfing. It works with PDFs as well as Amazon format books, but not ePub. Definitely easy on the eyes and easier on the wallet too.
Motorola was no one hit wonder with the original Moto Droid on Verizon. The Droid X, their second Android superphone is good enough to earn our Editor's Choice Award, and it shows great improvement from the already solid Droid. The Droid X is very slim slate design phone with a monster high res 4.3" capacitive multi-touch display, 1 GHz CPU and an excellent 8 megapixel camera with dual LED flash. It has the usual 3G EV-DO Rev. A with mobile hotspot feature, WiFi 802.11n , Bluetooth and a GPS that works with Google Maps. The X runs Android OS 2.1 with a smattering of Moto custom software.
The M780 is the updated version of the Portege M750 and steps up to the new Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 line of multi-core CPUs. The design is otherwise similar, but Toshiba has taken this pricey tablet and offered it in 4 flavors, with the base model being surprisingly affordable. We look at that $1,279 base model that has an active pen digitizer but no touch, the Intel Core i3 CPU running at 2.13GHz, a 12" LED backlit matte display, WiFi and Intel integrated graphics. If you're a graphics artist or student on a budget looking for a matte display tablet, the M780 might be for you.
AT&T's second Android smartphone looks like a lot like the HTC Incredible, only small, much smaller. These days touch screen smartphones are livin' large, so if you want something that easily fits in a pocket, the Aria is one of the few. It's a solid mid-range Android phone with a 3.2" capacitive multi-touch display running at 320 x 480 resolution. The Aria is powered by a capable 600MHz CPU and it runs Android OS 2.1 Eclair with HTC's excellent Sense software. Other amenities include a 5 megapixel autofocus camera, a GPS that works with Google Maps spoken navigation and AT&T Navigator, WiFi and Bluetooth. It might not compete with the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S (Captivate) Android superphone, but at $129 it's easy on the pocket.
The Wave is Samsung's first smartphone running their new bada OS. If you crossed the Samsung Jet's OS and software with Android, you'd have something like bada. The hardware is top notch with a 3.3", 800 x 480 pixel Super AMOLED display that will toast your retinas with color and light. Other standard superphone amenities include a 1GHz processor, a sharp 5 megapixel camera that can shoot 720p video, WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS. This is an import GSM quad band world phone, and that means no contract subsidies through your US carrier and no US 3G. Still, it's interesting to see how bada has turned out and what Samsung can do with high end hardware design.
More than a year has passed since the first generation Sony Vaio P hit the stores. Despite its niche design, this 8" notebook/netbook that does away with the wrist rest area sold well and has earned a revision to second generation status. The 1.3 lb. Vaio has a 1600 x 768 pixel widescreen display, a near full-size keyboard with chiclet keys and it runs Windows 7 Home Premium. An SSD drive and 2 gigs of RAM are standard. Somehow Sony fits 2 USB ports, a stereo headphone jack, an SD card slot and a Memory Stick Pro Duo slot into something that looks like half a netbook.
It's June and you know what that means: a new iPhone model. The iPhone 4 once again had thousands of people standing in line at absolutely ungodly hours, waiting and hoping to get Apple's latest wonder toy. And the iPhone 4 is undoubtedly the best iPhone yet with a stunning industrial design, superb build quality, an excellent camera and free video chatting over WiFi. The Retina Display is extremely sharp and easy on the eyes and the smartphone is very fast. But all isn't perfect with the iPhone 4, and that gives the competition a little room to breath.
iHome's latest speaker/clock radio/kitchen timer combo looks like a mini Cuisinart. That makes sense since it's designed for the kitchen with splash-proof controls and dual timers for that souffle and quiche you're baking. The iHome iP39 works with all iPhone models as well as iPod models with a dock connector.
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