After months of rumours, buzz and news in the tech sector, the latest smartphone from Samsung has finally been unveiled. But will the latest version of the Galaxy manage to repeat the resounding sales success of its predecessor, the Samsung S II Galaxy? Samsung‘s S II has enjoyed phenomenal success as one of the highest selling smartphones ever, with staggering sales of over twenty million units worldwide. In other words, the S II has been the only smartphone that has gone toe-to-toe with the king of smartphones, Apple’s iPhone, and survived. This sleek smartphone is Korean-born – a compendium of design, style and function is very futuristic. Let’s take a closer look at what’s under the bonnet.
The official launch of the Galaxy S III took place on 3 May at Earls Court in London with emphasis on the smart and intelligent features of the phone. This is because the S III has plenty of outstanding items that rival the already awesome Siri voice dictation of the iPhone 4S. The biggest S III feature to challenge the iPhone is S Voice, a voice recognition system far more advanced than anything on the market today. It recognizes the natural voice, without special phrases, and recognizes major foreign languages automatically. Regarding the S Voice feature, the Samsung site says ‘Why not get a response from your phone? Tell it to wake up! Even better, you can tell Samsung GALAXY S III to turn off the alarm for a few minutes and let yourself sleep a bit more. Answer your phone (or reject a call), turn your music up (or down), and even tell the camera when to shoot.‘ All this with a simple voice command – spectacular!
The S III features get even better with Stay Smart, a software package that creates amazing operations using the front 1.9 megapixel camera. Stay Smart will adjust the screen brightness automatically or turns off the screen to save power when you look away and pops back to normal again when you’re back to reading your screen. No other smartphone does that!
Among the other novelties of this super smartphone are AllShare Play, Samsung’s answer to the icloud, D Beam, a method of instant content sharing (sort of a bump sharing for enabled Samsung devices), Social Tag, an innovative automatic system for tagging that automatically detects faces in the photo albums and connects them to the contact details of social networks and telephone details, and Direct Call, a direct call that will connect you automatically to the person you were texting but suddenly decided to call instead.
As for specifications, the S III is equipped with a 3-screen HD Super AMOLED 4.8″ display, a 1.4 GHz Quad-Core Exynos 4212 processor, a capacity of 16/32/64 GB internal memory and 1 GB of RAM. The operating system is obviously Android, in its latest release, the 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The rear camera is an impressive 8 megapixels, and allows you to shoot movies up to 1080p. Most importantly, the battery is a powerful 2100 mAh.
The phone is for sale now in London’s Oxford Street Phones4U store. But if you can’t make it to London to purchase, you can pre-order your phone and expect it to deliver on 30th of May for a price of £549.99 without a contract .
There has been a lot of focus on iPads with the launch of Apple’s new iPad last month, but now it’s time to look at the other side of the coin.
If you are looking for a thin tablet then prepare to be amazed – the Toshiba AT200 has reached stores and it is only 7.7mm thick! When you compare that with the 8.6mm Galaxy Tab 10.1 and 9.4mm new iPad it’s pretty darn impressive! At 535g the AT200 is also over 100g lighter than the new iPad and 30g lighter than the Galaxy Tab 10.1.
Not only does the tablet look good, with a brushed metal back and 256 x 176 x 7.7 mm dimensions, but it’s a great alternative you’re not a fan of the restrictive nature of Apple operating systems. It comes with the Andriod Honeycomb 3.2 as standard and will also receive an update to Ice Cream Sandwich in the near future, although we’re not sure of the exact date for that.
The Toshiba AT200 comes in two models; 16GB and 32GB which are priced at £399 and £449. It’s got a 1.2GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM so should run smoothly.
And if you like the idea of using your tablet to take photos, then the 2MP camera on the front and 5MP camera on the back should do nicely.
So the latest product from Apple has landed! The iPad 3, or should I say the ‘new iPad’ has had Apple fans queuing around the block outside Apple stores to be one of the first to get their hands on the upgraded tablet.
First things first though; why is it called ‘The new iPad’? Well that’s the thing, it’s not actually called anything, it’s not called ‘new iPad’ it just is, well, the new version! There has been a lot of discussion about the reason not to name the latest iPad but the main consensus is that tablets are for the post PC generation; many people now are using tablets in place of or alongside a laptop or desktop PC. Apple don’t name the different versions of their laptops and desktops so why would they continue to name the new versions of the iPad? People will just buy the latest version without question, just like they do when they buy a new MacBook Pro etc.
So what’s new about the latest iPad? We’ve asked our resident iPad enthusiast Sam to compare the features of the iPad 2 and the new iPad, so you can be sure what you’re spending your extra dosh on before you spend it! Take a look at the video or read on for our findings:
What’s inside?
Much has been made of the high definition ‘retina display’, so much so that some people thought the latest iPad might be called the iPad HD… The new iPad has a resolution of 2048 x 1536 which is 4 x more pixels than the iPad 2 and 1 million more than an HDTV. But how useful is the new clearer, crisper, detailed display? Well it’s great if you’re a gamer as the graphics will seem much slicker and it’s also worthwhile if you want to use your iPad for watching movies, but bear in mind that 2048 x 1536 is a very high resolution and most apps and many movies are not yet produced in such high quality. However the difference should be obvious when reading text on the screen, so if you are sending and receiving emails and also reading books and magazines, the text will be less pixelated.
The new iPad has a new A5X Processor, with quad-core graphics. This upgrade has been included to ensure everything on the shiny new high res screen is fast and smooth. However you won’t notice a massive difference between the speed of the iPad 2 and new iPad in this respect, as the processor had to be improved to keep up with the improved resolution.
If you’re a photographer at heart and like to take your iPad out and about, then the new 5 mega pixel camera should rock your socks off. Apple has used the same technology it developed for the iPhone 4S and this is one area that you can really see a noticeable difference. Can you tell which of the photos below is taken with the new iPad and which one is taken with the iPad 2?
All of this new stuff is great but it’s sure to drain the battery right? Well no actually Apple has ensured that the battery still has the same life at 10hrs, so still great for a long journey or for taking to work/college.
The new iPad also features next generation wireless technology, meaning you can connect to more networks up to 4G LTE. The only snag here is that we don’t have 4G in the UK yet, so this isn’t really of benefit if you’re only going to use your iPad in this country. However 3G is actually very fast in the UK so this isn’t too much of a concern anyway.
The other interesting feature, especially if you plan on using your tablet for business is the voice dictation function. You can dictate into the microphone and the iPad will type your words for you… well it types your words most of the time! When we tested it we found that it copes well with simple sentences but unusual words like ‘Kelkoo’ it struggled with. You can see from the screen shot below that it didn’t get some quite right!
The sentences should read:
‘This is a test to see how well dictation works’
‘Where are we going for lunch today do you fancy a sandwich’
‘Are we going out to lunch from Kelkoo today’
There are some great new features packed into the new iPad but the key question when deciding whether to splash your cash is; what do you want to use it for? If you’re a casual user then it’s probably not worth upgrading from an iPad 2 in our opinion. And I would even go as far as to say that as a potential casual user myself (browsing the internet and watching movies on journeys) that doesn’t yet own a tablet, I would be tempted to buy the iPad 2 and enjoy the saving, as at £329 for the 16GB Wi-Fi version (the only one now available from Apple) it comes in at £70 cheaper than the new iPad 16GB Wi-FI.
If all the new features have got you hot under the collar and you fancy winning yourself a new iPad, enter our ‘Tweesons to love the new iPad’ competition and tell us which feature of the new iPad you are most excited about and why!
There is a lack of young adults growing up with programming skills in the UK apparently, but now a solution could be just around the corner…The Raspberry Pi is the first computer than can teach kids to code.
The computer that has just gone on sale, is the size of a credit card and plugs into the usual PC components – monitor, mouse and keyboard using USB connections. It runs the open source operating system Linux and also has a Ethernet port meaning it can use high speed internet technology.
The software that is supported by the Raspberry Pi is designed to be a less intimidating version of standard programming packages and one that kids will quickly understand. It is hoped that more children will take an interest in learning programming and also that programming skills will become part of the national curriculum.
The Raspberry Pi has been developed over 6 years, starting life as a much larger piece of kit back in 2006, it was then developed into two further versions before becoming the credit card sized version that it is today.
A £22 model of the Pi is currently for sale, but a cheaper £16 version will go on sale later in the year. However demand today was so high that the seller’s website has crashed! We think they had better ensure they have plenty in stock if our kids are to become the coding whizzes of the future!
If you are a prolific tweeter and Facebook follower and love to stay connected wherever you are then the Sony Smartwatch should be right up your street.
The watch has a hosts a 1.3-inch OLED display which can connect with your smart phone – be warned though, it only works with Android phones so won’t be of any use to you if you are an iPhone user! The watch displays texts and tweets and can also be used as a media player by streaming music from your phone. Plus with a removable watch face and sleek design in multiple colours including pink, turquoise, blue, white and black it looks the part too.
It’s a great gadget if you want a convenient way of staying in touch and accessing your social media accounts without always having to worry about keeping your phone on you. Due for release in early 2012 Sony have also said that there will download-able apps available for the watch which will enhance its functionality.
So 2012 is upon us – what are your new year’s resolutions? As is usual practise with resolutions you may well have included getting fit! If that’s the case then having a gadget at hand to track your progress can make things that bit more interesting and fulfilling. If you plan on doing some running then a GPS watch is great not only to track your progress but to guide you through your route and eliminate the risk of getting lost – you can imagine the scene: you’re tired, cold (it is January) and all of a sudden you realise you don’t know the way home… not ideal! And even if you’re a seasoned runner a GPS watch is still a great piece of kit to invest in, so here’s our run down of the best watches to help you lose that Christmas tyre!
Nike+ Sportwatch GPS A great watch for beginners – user friendly and easy to control. In typical Nike fashion you put a pod in your shoe which ‘talks’ to the wrist watch so that you can see your progress in large numbers on the screen. And if you lose your GPS signal at anytime the pod will continue recording your workout. The menu has features such as your workout history and all-time records and you can also use it indoors when the weather is naff! Or if you fancy some treadmill speed sessions!
Garmin Forerunner 610
The Forerunner 610, has an easy to use, straightforward menu with a touch screen so it makes customising your information easy-peasy. It has a pacer feature if you’re up for a challenge, which allows you to race against yourself from a previous workout, or take on a friend’s performance on the same course and work on beating their time! – An excellent feature if you are the competitive type!
One of the important features to look out for with GPS watches is the battery life, and the Garmin Forerunner 610 ticks that box as it lasts eight-hours. Plus the compass will easily guide you back to the start of your run and stop you getting lost when out in country lanes or in areas you aren’t familiar with.
Timex run trainer This watch has a large face which displays four different metrics at once, great if you want all your workout info at a glance, but the large face does make the watch quite bulky so probably not ideal if you have a slight frame. One cool bit of data the Timex run trainer offers that you don’t always get is ‘elevation gained’, it’s always nice to know how many hills you’ve conquered – after all is does take its toll on your legs! You can also programme alerts during your run to remind you to drink or take gels, so you can really switch off and enjoy the great outdoors!
If you are a Lord of the Rings fan then news of the next film from Director Peter Jackson will be sure have you tingling from the toes upwards! The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is the prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy and is due for release in December 2012 – exciting but gosh that seems like a long wait?!
The makers have released a preview which is sure to stir up interest even if we are 12 months from the release date! It shows Martin Freeman in the role of young Bilbo Baggins and also features the return of Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf. The trailer opens with a scene showing an older Bilbo – played by Sir Ian Holm – telling Frodo in a letter that he may not have told him everything about his adventures!
In typical Jackson style the trailer is hugely atmospheric, with beautiful music to stir up great anticipation and excitement for the adventure ahead! If you haven’t already seen the movies why not treat yourself to the Lord of the Rings Trilogy box set for Christmas?
If you’re a fan of first person shooters then you can’t have failed to notice the excitement that has surrounded the launch of the latest Call of Duty game: Modern Warfare 3. And now news has spread that the game has smashed sales records by taking a massive £640m in the first 16 days after its launch! That even beats the latest Harry Potter film – which took 17 days to hit the £640 mark in August this year.
Modern Warfare 3 depicts a war declared on the US and western Europe by Russian ultranationalists and the player takes the part of a combatant in the conflict. It has received critical acclaim, although some gamers have not been pleased about the level of innovation compared with previous games in the series.
Modern Warfare 3′s 2010 predecessor, Call of Duty: Black Ops, did not reach the £640m sales mark until almost two months after its launch so this really is a massive record!
We’ve probably all seen the ads by now, but is it true what they say? is the Nikon 1 J1 really that great? Well we think it is pretty good; it’s basically a pretty sophisticated piece of kit that allows you to get pro results on the move without having pro photography skills!
The casing of the camera is super-small so ideal for carrying around and shooting photos and movies on the go, unlike trying to lug an SLR camera on all your holidays! It has two new shooting modes – ‘motion snapshot’ and ‘smart photo select’ which allow you to take photos and record video at the same time, so you can capture all the best moments. Once you’ve taken your pics the camera selects the 5 best ones for you, allowing you to choose the very best for your mantel piece! Plus it’s got a super high speed AF CMOS Sensor which allows you to focus faster.
And in this day and age we expect choice too don’t we? Well Nikon obviously know this as they have produced the camera in several different colours; Silver, Black, Pink and Red. Note that the bright colours are all quite girlie! And you can buy matching interchangeable lenses in addition.
All this combined with its portable size means it’s perfect for capturing all the action! If you don’t think your other halve’s budget will stretch to buying you one for Christmas then you can enter our competition to win a Nikon 1 J1 here!
Scientists in Seattle have been developing a new generation of contact lenses that will allow the wearer to see floating texts and emails or augment their sight with computer-generated images – grannies all around the country will be saying; ‘what will they think of next?!’
In order to get the text into the contact lenses the team developing the them had to overcome a major hurdle, which is getting the human eye to focus on an image generated on its surface. Normally, we can only see objects clearly if they are held several centimetres away from the eye, but the lenses have now been adapted so that wearers can see quite literally in front of their eyes!
Any contact lens wearer will be aware that they are made out of very delicate materials, it’s very easy to rip or damage a lens with finger nails, and this has created a challenge because manufacturing electrical circuits involves inorganic materials, very hot temperatures and toxic chemicals. To overcome this problem, researchers built the circuits from minute layers of metal only about one thousandth the width of a human hair!
One useful idea for the lenses is for drivers to wear them to see journey directions rather than using a map or a GPS, or to see their vehicle’s speed projected onto the windscreen.
And there is also excitement that the lenses could take the virtual world of video gaming to a new level. Imagine seeing the game play literally right in front of your eyes as if you were actually there…
Obviously for the squeamish of us that can’t stand the idea of putting contact lenses in our eyes this won’t fill us with glee, but for many this could be an exciting devlopment that they can’t wait to get their hands on!
The S III features get even better with Stay Smart, a software package that creates amazing operations using the front 1.9 megapixel camera. Stay Smart will adjust the screen brightness automatically or turns off the screen to save power when you look away and pops back to normal again when you’re back to reading your screen. No other smartphone does that!
Among the other novelties of this super smartphone are AllShare Play, Samsung’s answer to the icloud, D Beam, a method of instant content sharing (sort of a bump sharing for enabled Samsung devices), Social Tag, an innovative automatic system for tagging that automatically detects faces in the photo albums and connects them to the contact details of social networks and telephone details, and Direct Call, a direct call that will connect you automatically to the person you were texting but suddenly decided to call instead.
