Apple announced the 4-inch iPhone 5 smartphone

Apple today announced the most awaiting phone for all the Apple lovers, the Apple iPhone 5. Many of the rumors came while talking about iPhone 5. Among those rumours was the 4-inch display and that the phone is thinner and higher than its predecessor, the iPhone 4S. Also chinese iPhone 5 was also launched in china market way before its launch. 

The 7.6mm width makes it the thinnest iPhone so far. Making the phone thinner is probably a good enough reason for many to updating their existing 4S to the new model. But making a thin phone also limit the possibility for Apple to produce a much better camera as it must be room for the lens and sensor which must be stacked on top of each other. Therefore, the Iphone 5 has similar camera specifications. It is a 8 megapixel camera with a BSI sensor, auto focus, face detection and 1080p video capture. The front camera has an increased resolution of 720p.

The new phone has a 4-inch retina display that has a 640 x 1136 pixel resolution. The width of the display is the same as iPhone 4, but the height is increased with 176 pixels up to 1136. This makes up to add one more row for icons. The iPhone 5 has a 800:1 contrast ratio and 500cd/m2 max. brightness, again same as iPhone 4.

The old 30-pin connector has been replaced by a 8-pin connector called Lightning. A Lightning-to-30-pin adapter accessory is available in the Apple Store for $29. The adapter is compatible with all older accessories and Iphone 5, Ipod Touch 5th generation and Ipod Nano 7th generation.




Apple has also updated the headset with a new design. Earlier, you could mix left and right ear-plugs, but that is not possible any more as the new headphones has directional speakers. Just like Apple has done with the camera (iSight) and display (Retina) these headset has got a name. The new headphones are called EarPods and these will work with all previously released Apple products.

Apple has kicked out Google from the iPhone 5 software. Google Maps are now history for iPhone which is now replaced by Maps. Hence, the iPhone 5 will be the first Apple device running iOS 6, and Apple Maps are now the default navigation and map app on this and future iOS devices.

                                            Comparison of Google Maps v/s Apple Maps

Apple is very good at making their new products look revolutionary and sensational. One example of this evident during the presentation today. Instead of saying that the Iphone 5 is 1.7 mm thinner than the iPhone 4S, the company showed the audience that the new phone model was 18% thinner. A much larger number to show off.

The hardware specifications is not iPhone's strength any more. Looking at the specifications alone is not a good reason to go for this particular phone model. I think consumers will buy this for the well-known intuitive user interface and of course the Apple/iPhone brand name.

                              

The iPhone 5 will be available with three variants. Apple has not yet revealed the sim-free price of iPhone 5, but these are the prices in US on two year contract.

16 GB edition for $199

32 GB edition for $299

and the largest 64 GB edition for $399.

Too bad Apple didn't add a memory card slot on the new iPhone.

Like earlier the phone is launched in two colors : Black and White. iPhone 5 will be available in the US, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, France, Germany, Australia, UK on September 21st. 22 other European countries will get the phone on September 28. 100 countries will receive the iPhone 5 during December.

Apple again, has shown the world that it can make good software indulged in good hardware. There's no doubt that in one year from now, the iPhone 5 will be the best-selling mobile phones from Apple. I pesonally, do not think the iPhone 5 is the "All-new design" and "Completely redesigned" as Apple chose to call it. The iPhone 5 is an evolution smartphone based on the ideas behind Iphone 4/4S.

Some new features found in iPhone 5 -

• New A6 processor
• Three different network configurations (2 x GSM and one CDMA)
• LTE network speed
• Now with Wi-Fi a (802.11a/b/g/n)
• Larger display (4-inch with a 640 x 1136 pixel resolution)
• 1.2 front camera with 720p video capture
• New smaller Lightning connector (8-pin)
• Audio jack located at the bottom of the handset
• New EarPods headphones
• iOS 6
• Lighter with 112 gram

Apple iPhone 5 highlights -

• Weight: 112 gram
• Size: 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm
• Networks configurations - 

1. GSM model A1428: UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 4 and 17)
2. CDMA model A1429: CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1900, 2100 MHz); UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 1, 3, 5, 13, 25)
3. GSM model A1429: UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 1, 3, 5)

• 4 inch touch display, 640 x 1136 pixels resolution
• Wi-Fi a/b/g/n (2.4 and 5GHz
• 8 megapixel camera, BSI sensor
• Bluetooth 4.0
• A6 processor
• AGPS and GLONASS
• Talk time: 8 hours (3G)
• Standby time: 225 hours
• Sensors: gyro, accelerometer, proximity, ambient light

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Polaroid launches 16 megapixel HD smart camera powered with Android

Polaroid announces world’s first Android HD smart camera – the Polaroid SC1630 at the CES last week. The compact camera would be running an Android smartphone within it and has no calling features even though press images show a signal strength bar. Having the Polaroid SC1630 smart camera powered with Android you will no longer need to pick between your smartphone and camera because it offers the best of both worlds.

The Polaroid SC1630 delivers everything expected from a digital camera but powered by android astounding packs all the features needed to handily capture, connect and instantaneously share stunning HD digital photos and videos into one device. The five ounces camera is an ultra-portable, 2-in-1 instant sharing powerhouse which leaves behind even the most powerful camera phones by mixing together an advanced imaging feature with an android powered mobile platform. 

                                  

Now what’s cool with the SC1630 is that it has sharing features. The camera has a built in Wi-Fi, so that captured images can be sent off to the cloud or transferred to a PC without the need of the cable. Many of the image editing apps can be downloaded since the SC1630 has access to the Android market which gives the photographer editing possibilities in the field.

Scott W. Hardy, president of Polaroid said, “Polaroid has helped the world bring stories to life through photographs for the past 75 years, the newest member of the Polaroid family, the Polaroid SC1630 Smart Camera unites the beauty of high-end digital images with powerful Android connectivity features. The result is an instant experience of click, capture and share that enables social networks to see and experience the moment as if they were there."

Highlights of Polaroid SC1630 -

• 16 megapixel camera
• 3x optical zoom
• 36mm - 108mm lens
• 3.2-inch display screen
• Wi-Fi
• Face and smile detection
• Geo-tagging
• Red-eye removal
• Resizing
• Colour correction
• microSD card slot. Up to 32 GB
• HD video capture
• Focal length: 3.1 - 5.6

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Motorola Droid Xyboard review: CES 2012

The minute you get your hands on the Droid Xyboard, it is clear that this is a higher-caliber Android tablet while comparing with almost everything else available today. The tablet is sleek, properly balanced and felt comfortable in our hands. A completely new look, significantly enhanced performance and some productivity-oriented enhancements make it feel and look like a first-class business tablet.

The 10.1-inch tablet is powered with Android OS v3.2 (Honeycomb) which is upgradable to v4.0. Motorola Droid Xyboard is just 8.8 mm thin (0.35-inch) which gives the sleek and slim look. But it’s not thin as the Toshiba’s Excite X10 which is just 7.7 mm thin which is the thinnest tablet yet.  It has a 5MP rear camera and a 1.3MP camera on the front. The camera also has a autofocus fuction provided with LED flash which can produce 2592 x 1944 pixels.

The soft rubberized grips on the horizontal sides of the tablet gives a comfortable feel and slip-resistant, but also delicately strengthen the notion that this tablet should be held in landscape mode. The tablet uses an IPS (In-plane switching) panel which results in a bright, vibrant screen that aids readable quality in all lightning conditions.

The only drawback is, the Xyboard lacks the full-sized USB port and SD card reader that other tablets have. But, it does have an IR transmitter that support in tablet’s en suite Dijit app which helps to contol your home theater.

Highlights -

• Size: 10.1-inch, 1280 x 800 pixels
• Weight: 599 grams
• Android OS, v3.2 (Honeycomb), upgradable to 4.0
• 1.2 GHz dual core TI OMAP 4 processor
• Camera: 5MP primary, autofocus, LED flash; 1.3 MP secondary
• 1 GB RAM
• 16 - 64 GB internal memory
• 3.5 mm audio jack
• Bluetooth
• Wi-Fi
• Battery: 7000 mAh; Talktime: 10 hours

Price -

Droid Xyboard is available for $479 for 16 GB version with two-years 4G contract. $579 for 32 GB; $679 for 64 GB; $699 for 16 GB Wi-Fi version.

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LG Z330 Ultrabook: CES 2012

In the past few months we saw so many ultrabooks budding up in the electronic market. The Apple’s trendy MacBook Air gave the PC makers a cause to be anxious, since it is obvious that these thin-and-light laptops seems to be in a tough competiton with them.

In general, Ultrabooks are the small, light, powerful and with impressive battery life gadget. Here, LG’s professed ‘Super Ultrabook’ Z330 is no unusual. The Z330 embraces a 13.3-inch display, if it is not sufficient for you then there’s also a model Z430 comprising of 14-inch screen.

Design

The Z330 is a attractive machine. The looks of this model  is far better than most ultrabooks seen so far. The new entry in manufacturing laptops, LG had made classy effort and also fashioned wedge-shaped taper on the show with clean lines.

The trackpad is truly big which shows a positive sign. The keyboard seems to be well-spaced, which would aid in typing smoothly and even when you are in a hasten. The orange ligt-up power button also gives an pleasant look and charisma to the machine. The only problem is the vent which is at the Z330’s left flank.

The Z330 is just 14.7mm thick, so it’ll clutch into a bag with no complaints. In regards to weight, the ultrabooks is just 1.21kg to scale i.e. light enough to heave around all the day.

You might won’t have any complaints with the design of the Z330. Even though, the newly announced Aspire S5 ultrabook perhaps gives a prominent design and looks while comparing through other thin-and-light books.

Connectivity

The connectivity ports of the Z330 isn’t very striking and impressive. There’s a USB port on the left side (one would think this to be USB 3.0 but it still the USB 2.0) and also a network port, which will aid to plug an adaptor into if you wish to use the Z330 with a Ethernet cable.

You’ll find a headphone socket over the right, a HDMI port and second USB port. The Z330 seems to look same as the Z430 with lack of an Ethernet slot from the left.

The sad part is the Z330 provides a microSD card slot and not a SD card slot. It doesn’t gives you a larger option means if you’re carrying a SD card then this would be a trouble for you. Hence for transferring photos from a compact camera that has a SD card won’t be able to work. As comparing, even the super-minimalist MacBook Air has an SD card slot, so it’s unaccepted reason that why this part is omitted.

Design and Hardware

The Z330 comes with a 13.3-inch screen on the diagonal. The display is looked convincingly bright and colourful to us. On the other side the ultrabook encounters the Intel’s range of Core iSeries processors, which leave the Z330 competent to handle things like web browsing and HD video playback. Storage involve the SSD drives, which are comparatively faster than traditional hard drives and also break proof while dropped. From battery point of view, it gives a minimum battery life.

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Sony announces its first mobile phone in 10 years: Sony Xperia Ion

Sony announces its very first mobile phone ‘Sony Xperia Ion’ in 10 years after it is being seperated from Ericsson at the CES 2012. Now the new products and devices is back with its brand logo of Sony instead of Sony Ericsson. AT&T is the first operator to have a Sony phone in the assortment.  Sony has selected AT&T as the first collaborator for the rejuvenated brand.

The first Android-based smartphone of Sony is the Sony Xperia Ion. It chose AT&T as its partner just like the corporation did while the announcement of Xperia Play in US.  The 4.6-inch model has a 12 megapixel camera with running Android Gingerbread. It has a dual core CPU provided with Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 MSM8260 processor.

                   

The logo on the backside of the phone is of Sony Ericsson which is seems to be a strange factor, since Sony has it own logo. This appears to have been in a rush as they have turned out a Sony logo in the frontside and Sony Ericsson logo on the backside.

Highlights- 

• Size: 132 x 68 x 10.6 mm
• Weight: 144 gram
• 4.6 inch HD Reality display with a 720 x 1280 pixels resolution, 16 million colors
• 1.5 dual-core processor, Qualcomm Snapdragon S3MSM8260
• 12 megapixel  Exmor-R camera, 3D sweep panorama, Fast capture feature
• 1.3 megapixel Exmor-R front camera
• 1 MB RAM, 16 GB storage
• HDMI out
• Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth
• 3.5mm audio jack
• 3D games
• Battery: Standyby - 400 hours; Talktime - 10 hours
• Android 2.3 Gingerbread Operating System. Upgradable to Ice Cream Sandwich in 2nd quarter 2012 

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Sony Xperia S announced

There went a rumour about the announcement of the Sony Xperia S and also we have seen some leaked photos of the model  many time before. The latest leak photos had Sony Ericsson logo wearing on it but this final product image from CES has a Sony logo on the top. 

It is a smaller version of Sony Xperia Ion lacking of the LTE high speed connectivity. While the Xperia Ion has a huge 4.6 inch display, the Xperia S has a smaller 4.3 inch display. Even though it has a smaller display it comes with the same 720 x 1280 HD resoulution.   The white version of the Xperia S is said to be a Phones4U fashionable on the islet.

The camera megapixels count has increased from 8 to 12 in this newer version. There are very few smartphones that tender such a high number of megapixel count. Samsung Pixon 12, Sony Ericsson Satio and the legendary Nokia N8, all of these fabricate excellent image quality and we could expect that the 12 megapixel camera of the Sony Xperia S wil do the same.

Highlights -

•  Size: 128 x 64 x 10.6 mm
•  Weight: 144 gram
• 4.3 inch Reality display
• 720 x 1280 pixel resolution
•  Mobile Bravia Engine
•  Camera: - 12.1 megapixel camera, Sony Exmor-R sensor, Fastest Capture feature to take shots in 1.5 seconds geotagging, Smile shutter, Face recognition 
• 1080p video capture – primary
•  720p video capture   – secondary
•  1.5 GHz dual core processor
• Wi-Fi
• HDMI
•  3.5 mm audio jack
• Playstation Certified
• Available in white and black
• Battery: Standby – 450 hours; Talktime – 7 hrs 30min

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