Friday, November 30, 2007

Review of GSM/UMTS-handset Samsung F330


Mobile-review have posted another excellent review...this time on the Samsung F330. Like always, the review is full of info and pics. It's really worth checking out. Here is the final impression.

Impressions
The reception quality put up by the F330 is in line with other Samsung-branded devices. The ringtone volume is quite decent, as it can be heard in various environments. The silent alert is average strength-wise, no significant improvements have been made here.

Form-factor wise, the F330 appears to be a rival to the Sony Ericsson W910i, but on closer examination, you?ll see that these are two completely different worlds. In terms of price, the Samsung?s offspring is more of a competitor to the Sony Ericsson W580i. However the latter is a clear winner thanks to a bevy of color solutions, more punch under the hood, better build quality and materials used (the plastic utilized in the W580i is way more expensive). Given their equally heavy price tags of 400 USD, these two are going to clash, but don?t expect the F330?s sales to come close to the benchmark of the W580i. The reason being that it already has another competitor in the form of the Samsung U600 with its superior 3,2 Mpix camera and similar price, making the F330 not a clear-cut choice. Consumers are more likely to go for a device from the U-series instead of a quirky handset housed in an unsophisticated design.

One of the company?s missteps with the F330 is the decision to offer it only in white, which instantly narrows down its target audience, making this phone a very niche model. The youth won?t find this trim flashy enough, however girls usually deem this color appealing. On the other hand, the absence of a 3,5 mm audio jack on the casing, its sound quality comparable with other offerings and not exactly snazzy design might put these girls off. All this throws the F330 into a vicious circle which it doesn?t seem to be capable to escape from.

I had been struggling for a while, trying to figure out what this phone lacks and what could outweigh most of its omissions, but the answer turned out to be right on the surface ? my friend?s 17-year old daughter enlightened me ?I wouldn?t buy it ? it lacks style, but pretends to be an iPod?. This phone definitely needs more charisma.


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Decision Time: Nokia N82 Review, to publish or not to publish?

I’m in the last stretch of my Nokia N82 review titled “Nokia N95, N95 8gb and N82: The evolution of the multimedia computer,” when all of a sudden my N82 breaks. I wanted to take a picture so I took the phone out of my pocket, flipped the shutter down and this is what I’m stuck with:



screenshot0008.jpg


Now I tried a few things. I *#7370# ‘d the phone, that didn’t do anything. I tried removing the memory card, nada. I tried power cycling, again, nothing.


The review is sitting here on my laptop and apart from some edits and pictures that have to be inserted it’s basically done. I’m quite upset, I was in the zone, banged out close to 3800 words and now this happens.


You’re call IntoMobile readers, publish the review or no?



words.jpg


07:45 in Finland, managed to pull an all nighter, see you in a few hours. Please leave any tips you might have for resolving this.


Edit: The other option would be to wait until I get a replacement, that can take up to a week. Tough call, I’m probably going to just stick this review up on the net after I edit it once I wake up.


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Elonex LNX Cube review

Elonex LNX Cube review



Trusted Reviews has reviewed the Elonex LNX Cube Multimedia System and here's their verdict on it.



Once again Elonex has raised the bar when it comes to the amount of features you can squeeze into one box. The level of media functionality in the LNX Cube is simply staggering. Yes the remote is horrible and the USB browser unpleasant, but you're just getting so much for so little. I expect that Santa could be delivering a lot of these to good children everywhere!


The £129 price tag puts it in pole position to appear below Christmas trees this holiday season.




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Thursday, November 29, 2007

Logitech G9 Laser Mouse Review

Logitech G9 Laser Mouse Review



When it comes to games on the computer, you can be sure that the mouse and the keyboard will come under close scrutiny, especially for those who are extremely serious about their gaming. Having the stock keyboard and mouse that ships with each computer just won't do the trick for those who are aiming for perfection (pun not intended), as folks in that tier would do well to pick up a gaming-specific peripheral instead. Case in point, the Logitech G9 Laser Mouse that resides at the high end side of things from the Logitech stable where mice are concerned.




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Razer Pro|type Keyboard Review

Razer Pro|type Keyboard Review



TechwareLabs has published a review of the Razer Pro|type Keyboard with iPod dock. Here's a clip from the coverage:



The Razer Pro|Type keyboard is an ultra slick, backlit, and thin profile keyboard that comes with about every feature you could possibly need and an iPod dock as well. We hooked this beauty up to our rig and took her for a test drive. Overall, the Razer Pro|Type keyboard is an excellent keyboard solution for gamers that like to listen to music while they game or those that love listening to music as they multitask. One press of a button and your music is playing and from there you can increase or decrease the volume, shuffle your playlist, or mute the sound.


Sounds like this has gotten the thumbs-up from folks at TechwareLabs!


 




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Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Nokia N82 ? preview


Mobile-review have posted a Nokia N82 preview today. Despite it only being a preview...it is very long and in depth and can be considered a review. Here is the final impression.

Impressions
Don?t expect to find here any low-down on the N82 in this section, at least for now ? we had to put this phone through its paces in several sittings, on top of that, every unit we had hands-on sessions with was different. Though, we will get our mitts on a commercial unit pretty soon, and as soon as it arrives, we will update this review, and, for the time being, let us call this a ?preview?.

Has Nokia hit the bull?s eye with this model? It is absolutely safe to say this handset will appeal to the masses and will be a truly sought-after offering ? the N82 definitely has what it takes and just like the Nokia N73 a year ago, it is on its way to the title of the most affordable and decent Nokia-branded imaging-minded solution. Its music department is no different from the Nokia N95 8Gb, meaning that it proves to be somewhat inferior to the Nokia N81. Still, your music experience with the N82 won?t be irritating or dismal. Missing remote control from the sales package is another hint at the handset?s true positioning.

Given its current retail price of 450 Euro, the N82 is up against the Sony Ericsson K850i alone. Which one to go for, I hear you ask? It will be one tough decision for you, better listen to what your experience of playing around with either of the phones tells you. For the owners of the Nokia N95, the N82 won?t break any new ground ? by and large it is the N95, yet with some of its shortcomings mitigated and more RAM onboard.

Shedding some light on myths and rumors circulating around the web on an impending music-savvy edition of the N82 carrying 8Gb onboard, I have to say this is very unlikely in view of the handset?s positioning. It already has a rival, which can only dream of 8Gb of storage. Looking at Nokia?s range you may well come to a conclusion that the arrival of a handset like this retailing for 70 Euro would be fine if only they didn?t have the Nokia N95 on offer. Which won?t happen for at least 7-8 months to come. Just like the Nokia N73, the N82 doesn?t have any sort of 8 or 4 Gb vartiations.


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First Drive 2008 Honda S2000 CR ? Previews

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door roadster
ESTIMATED BASE PRICE: $38,000
ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, port fuel injection
Displacement: 132 cu in, 2157cc
Power (SAE net): 237 bhp @ 7800 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 162 lb-ft @ 6800 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed manual
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 94.5 in
Length: 162.1 in
Width: 68.9 in
Height: 50.0 in
Curb weight: 2800?2900 lb
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST):
Zero to 60 mph: 5.5 sec
Standing �-mile: 14.0 sec
PROJECTED FUEL ECONOMY (MFR?S EST):
EPA city driving: 18 mpg
EPA highway driving: 25 mpg

2008 Honda S2000 CR 2008 Honda S2000 CR 22008 Honda S2000 CR 3?Warning! Auto racing is spectacular and exciting, but can be dangerous!? The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course posts this caution next to the drivers? bathrooms, so it?s probably worth repeating in this introduction to the Honda S2000 CR. For the CR?the initials stand for ?Club Racer??is about rubber-chunking, brake-burning, wall-fanning track work. You wouldn?t really want the shale-stiff CR for anything else, which is perhaps why Honda plans to sell only 1400 copies of the circa-$38,000 CR in 2008.

Spring rates and shock-damping settings are hiked considerably, although they remain nonadjustable, and the anti-roll bars are thicker. The steering ratio is hastened from 14.9:1 to 13.8:1, and stiffeners are added to the rack mount to increase rigidity. The CR?s blocky Bridgestone Potenza RE070 tires, tread-widened in back from 245 to 255, proved stickier while lapping Mid-Ohio back-to-back with base 2008 S2000s (slightly revised instruments top the list of minor refinements to the base car).

Compared with the base S2000, the CR is simply harder and sharper, with less body roll and tire scrubbing and more corner composure and stability under braking. With no more horsepower, the CR pruned about three seconds off lap times turned in the base car. That?s a gift any racer will surely find spectacular and exciting.

� Source: caranddriver
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Monday, November 26, 2007

2008 Mazda MAZDA6 Review

Introduction
Since it debuted five years ago, the Mazda 6 has been the sports car of the midsize sedan segment. Taught, communicative steering and a poised chassis are hallmarks of a car that begs to be driven with enthusiasm -- even if the destination is the local Wal-Mart. Its stylish design and driver-oriented cockpit exude a visual excitement that others in this staid segment shy away from for fear of turning off more conservative buyers. The 2008 Mazda 6 still happily boasts a sporty personality, yet provides plenty of family-friendly practicality.

2008 Mazda MAZDA62008 Mazda MAZDA6-22008 Mazda MAZDA6-3For 2008, the 6 provides a little less of that practicality, however. The Sport Wagon has been killed off, the latest casualty in the American purge of the dreaded wagon species. Nevertheless, the unique "five-door" hatchback model remains. This body style is popular in Europe, but rare in America where even the slightest whiff of a hatchback makes consumers go "yuck." Still, the hatchback maintains a very sedanlike profile and to some eyes, its fastback profile is more attractive than the traditional four-door sedan. Plus, its 22 cubic feet of cargo space is the largest available in the family sedan market -- topping even the full-size Ford Taurus.

Powertrains and Performance
All 2008 Mazda 6 models are front-wheel drive. Standard on the i model is a 2.3-liter, four-cylinder engine that makes 156 hp and 154 pound-feet of torque. The s model upgrades to a 3.0-liter V6 that makes 212 hp and 197 lb-ft. The Sport trim level comes only with a five-speed manual, while the Sport Value Edition offers a five-speed automatic. The Touring and Grand Touring trims are only available with a six-speed automatic. The Mazda 6 s will run to 60 mph in about 8 seconds flat, which is respectable, but at least a second off the pace of the segment speedsters.

Revised 2008 fuel economy figures for the four-cylinder i model are 21 mpg city and 28 mpg highway with the automatic transmission. The six-cylinder s model rates 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway with the automatic. The Sport trim's manual transmission has a negligible effect on fuel mileage.

� Source: edmunds
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Samsung i760 Review (External)

Samsung i760 Review (External)


Our friends from Brighthand have given their verdict on the Samsung i760 smartphone: It is certainly not the best looking smartphone out there, but it gets the job done and is well built and usable. They also believe that Samsung is the biggest threat to HTC, the profilic smartphone company behind the Touch, Mogul and many more. And we agree: Samsung is an excellent smartphone manufacturer and they have taken the lead when it comes to packing features in a small and elegant package such as the Blackjack (read our review) and Blackjack 2 (hands-on).


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Sunday, November 25, 2007

Peer Review: Amazon?s Kindle ignites excitement and anguish


amznkindlepr.jpg


There was one hot gadget that you definitely couldn't find in stores this Black Friday: Amazon's new ebook reader, the Kindle. You couldn't even get one shipped overnight from Amazon. But the company made sure that plenty of journalists got to play with the Kindle before the holiday, "kindling" interest and conversation over the long weekend. They found a lot to like about Amazon's reader. But there are plenty of problems as well— many agonized over whether the $400 price tag could be justified by the presence of free EVDO Internet access. Assorted opinions after the jump.


That is one ugly gadget

"It looks like a piece of medical equipment. I don't want to be sitting on the bus with everyone thinking I'm some kind of techy hypochondriac constantly monitoring my vital signs." , Journalism.co.uk



It does many things wrong, but some things right

"But it's plain wrong to dismiss Amazon's innovation because it is saddled with the inevitable version 1.0 problems… Despite the always-on nature of the device, it seems to have a calmness to it. The lack of color, e-mail, and ads creates a mood that is more conducive to reading than a computer or a smart phone." , The New York Times



The battery is seriously and mysteriously terrible

"Combining a big battery, a display that takes practically no power and a cell phone that doesn't make calls shouldn't result in a device that has less than half the battery life of a cell phone." , The Washington Post



eBooks are the future, says this former non-believer

"The Search function on Kindle is superb as it checks the Web, Wikipedia, New American Oxford Dictionary, Kindle Store and any book/magazine/blog that's on your Kindle… everything else on the market pales in comparison… I can't say enough about the free Internet! Is it worth the $399 price tag? Maybe not, but it could be very soon if the hackers get to it." ,Crunchgear



Too much DRM. We like the Sony Reader better

"While some will love the idea of electronic mail and web browsing on the Kindle, gadget history has taught us that frankendevices more often fail than succeed… If I had to choose a device I would get the Sony Reader." , Gizmodo



It's like the first iPod: not perfect, but better than the competition

"In many ways, the Kindle reminds me of the first-generation iPod, which was not the first portable digital music player and was far less refined than future generations, but had the hardware, software, and store integration done better than any of its predecessors… The Kindle is a pretty remarkable tool. It has the potential to jump-start the electronic book revolution." , PC Magazine



Why should we pay for RSS feeds (most of which don't have ads anyway)?

"It's just too damn expensive. Worse, the $400 premium just to get the Kindle reader isn't the last fee you'll pay… Subscribing to a blog via the Kindle service costs $2 a month. Newspapers run around $15 a month. All for information currently available for free via the web and RSS syndication." , Boing Boing



You're going to apply DRM to my personal files and make me pay for the privilege?

"EVDO is great, but paying a 10-cent per-file fee to sync your own… files to it via email? Which are then converted to a proprietary format?… For $400, format neutrality should be assumed." , Wired



It's nothing like a book

"My test for a potential successor to the book is whether you can read it in the bath. With a Kindle, that is probably not a good idea." , The Times (of London)



What do you think? We'd feel pretty weird breaking out the Kindle on the subway…





Last Week: Peer Review: Zune is much better, still no iPod



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2008 Kia Spectra5 Review

The current Kia Spectra hasn't changed much since its debut in 2004, and even in the highly-competitive compact class that is not a problem. Even now, it holds its own very well thank you - especially the premium Spectra5 variant, an unusual and very European concept in the American compact market. Is it a five-door sporty hatchback? Or is it a small sport wagon?

2008 Kia Spectra5The Spectra did get a freshening for model year 2006, and interior trim upgrades last year. So 2008 changes are minor, limited to a new grille for the entry-level LX and mid-level EX sedans and a jack for an external audio player for the AM/FM/CD audio system standard in all models. The Spectra5 and similarly-outfitted SX sedan continue at the top of the line, with sporty exterior trim backed up by a firmer suspension tuning.

PERFORMANCE: With 138 horsepower (at 6000 rpm) and 136 lb-ft of torque (at 4500 rpm), the Spectra's 2.0-liter engine is one of the most powerful in its class. It's a dual overhead cam design with continuously variable cam phasing, and it drives the front wheels through a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. There is plenty of low-end torque to get moving, and once underway it's linear and only begins to fade as it approaches redline, not a bad characteristic at all for longevity. Linkage and ratio choice for the manual gearbox are both very good, and, with the fine suspension tuning, help determine the Spectra5's sporty, enjoyable character. The 130-pound penalty for the five-door hatchback body style has a negligible effect on real-world performance.

� Source: theautochannel
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Saturday, November 24, 2007

Sony Ericsson W960 Preview

About This Video
Phone Arena previews the high-end Walkman phone, the W960. It runs on Symbian with UIQ interface, has touch-sensitive display and Walkman 3.0 application ...



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Friday, November 23, 2007

Brief: Where is the N82 review?


estonia.jpg


A few (good) things popped up and I’m going to be spending my Saturday in a new country just 90 minutes away from Finland, Estonia. I’m going to take a lot, and I mean a lot, of pictures. I definitely want to throw those into the review.


Last chance to get your requests in. I’m going to talk about the N95, N95 8GB and N82. What would you like to know?


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2008 Buick Lucerne Review

What's New for 2008
The Buick Lucerne becomes a safer, more upscale sedan for 2008. Stability control is now optional on V6 models, and all Lucernes now offer an optional lane departure warning system and a "Side Blind Zone Alert" system that warns the driver when other vehicles enter the Buick's blind spots. Later in the model year, the retro-inspired Lucerne Super model arrives to top the range. The Super features a more powerful V8, upgraded suspension and unique styling cues inside and out. The CXL model loses its optional V8 this year, but high-end CXS models gain a power tilt-telescoping steering column.

2008 Buick Lucerne 2008 Buick Lucerne -2Introduction
The 2008 Buick Lucerne has quite a standard to uphold. As Buick's flagship car, the Lucerne represents the American brand most synonymous with big sedans. It also carries the responsibility of retaining the loyal customer base that likes Buicks just the way they've always been: soft, roomy and comfy.

For those buyers, this full-size sedan lands pretty close to the target. The Lucerne is one of the largest cars on the road, featuring enough room for five adults (six with the optional front bench seat) and an interior with easy-to-use controls. It rides quietly and reacts to bumps with the gentle motions its older customers prefer. Finally, Buick stands above much of its import-brand competition by offering a V8 engine in addition to a V6.

For 2008, the Lucerne gains features that widen its appeal. Drawing inspiration from the original Buick Super line of the 1940s, the new Lucerne Super will settle in at the top of the model line when it arrives in the spring of 2008. The Super has a more powerful version of the Northstar V8, firmer suspension tuning, suede-trimmed seats, a wood steering wheel and various other cosmetic touches. New safety technology also spreads throughout the Lucerne line. Stability control is now available on V6 models, and all but base CX Lucernes can be ordered with lane-departure and blind-spot warning systems.

� Source: edmunds

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It?s all about ME, me, me with fringME! widget (preview)


Stay connected with your internet communities,
have them communicate with you directly from your favorite internet pages via fring.

To start using fringME! you will need to have a Symbian 9.1 or 9.2 handset and the latest version of fring. Download now.

Whether you?re into internet communities, social networking, blogs, auction sites, you name it, life is simply about making online connections. So, we?ve been working hard to find new ways for fring users everywhere to stay connected with their online buddies, whether they?re fringsters or not. fring essentially enables your entire community to reach and find you on your fring-enabled mobile from anywhere on the web.One happy, intuitive example of this is our new fringME! widget, ??coming soon to a web page near you!

This WIDGET enables you to paste this cool new fringME! HTML code onto your own web pages, blogs and pretty much anywhere you have an internet presence of your own ? enabling community members or casual visitors to instantly see whether you?re online, offline, or busy in call and also chat with you.

PLUS ?(are you reading this sitting down?) view your location in real time via Google Maps (if you?re one of those lucky #@%$ with a GPS equipped handset).



Important! (pay attention) Privacy settings inside fring on your handset requires you to switch on or switch off the fringME! location feature (you know, like ?Opt in and out?? perfect for those occasions when you don?t want to be found!)The features included in the fringME! widget will be expanding, with more very cool stuff coming soon.To get your hands on your very own fringME! widget, simply visit the fringME! web page, enter your details, choose your preferred widget design and paste a small piece of html code into your pages. Then, switch on and configure fringME! on your mobile handset with fring installed, and away you go.


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Review of GSM/UMTS-smartphone Nokia N95 8Gb


Finally mobile-review have posted their Nokia N95 8GB review. The review like always, is very extensive and full of pics and clips. Here is the final impression.

Impressions
The reception quality provided by the N95 8Gb is up to Nokia?s standard, nothing to worry about here ? the sound in the earpiece is clear, and people on the other end of our calls reported no problems. The vibro alert is pretty average strength-wise. The volume of ring tones, all thanks to the phone?s stereo-speakers, is over the roof, you will hear it from your bag, not to mention outerwear. Compared to the Nokia N95, the top volume level has jumped even higher (subjectively, by 10-15 percent).

There are a lot of ways to think of the Nokia N95 8Gb ? some will see it as another Nokia N95 that has had all its flaws dealt with, and some might reckon it as a brand-new offering. But since it was initially planned as an addition to the Nokia N95, its arrival is neither surprising nor shocking. The market will have both versions of the handset, whose ways will be crossing only on open markets, like Russia. Carrier-driven regions won?t allow for conflicts between these two phones.

Actually, the foremost benefit you get with the Nokia N95 8Gb is its RAM volume, which is now twice the size of the original N95 ? this lends a whole new feel to the device, renders it much easier to use. The current version of the Multimedia menu brings no exciting touches ? it still hasn?t replaced the main menu in the NSeries devices and isn?t really popular as of today. In fact we are now being told this menu is possible and also shown the way it might look.

The model comes in as a video-savvy solution, hence its huge diagonal and storage space. For the time being, Nokia doesn?t focus the audience?s attention on that, but video is what this phone is all about. Among all NSeries-branded solutions, the N95 8Gb fits in the role of a pocketable video player best. Furthermore, it is pretty much in line with contemporary players, being second to, well, only the Apple Touch ? the king of video-inclined portable players.

In Europe the handset will retail for around 570 Euro (before taxes), while in Russia the official sales kick off at the level of 750-800 Euro. The reason for a gap this big is not exactly in VAT, but in Nokia?s strategy, when the company openly overprices its products for Russian distributors, increasing its wholesale prices by 10-12 percent. There is a multitude of reasons for that, yet we won?t go into detail in this particular write-up. The bottom line when officially supplied N95 8Gbs will still be profitable is 700-730 Euro ? the market will reach it by February. At the same time, unofficial supplies of the handset from other regions will offer more affordable prices ? even today these units go for 700-750 Euro, and are expected to get even cheaper (around 600 Euro) in the future.

If you don?t own a Nokia N95, but consider this device for your next phone purchase, here is a piece of advice from me ? grab a Nokia N95 8Gb, it is the safest way to go in our case. And if you already have a Nokia N95, and by and large you feel content with it, the new model is definitely not for you; given the substantial price gap it won?t be an adequate replacement. Better wait for the end of summer 2008 to buy the company?s next flagship.

The Nokia N95 8Gb faces no direct competition on the market, expect for the NSeries offerings we listed above. The best thing about it is that today consumers are offered to pick the feature pack and the form-factor they need from this line-up.


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