Golden Android Watch Coming in Early 2012

android based smart i'm Watch

 So what's so interesting about a gold watch? Not much, unless it also happens to be "the world's first real smart watch." That's how Italian company Blue Sky describes their entire line -- including the non-precious metal models in the $400 ballpark -- of 'futuristic' wristwatches.

From a technical standpoint, it seems like futuristic devices should at least do stuff past devices haven't already done, right? Well, connecting to a phone by Bluetooth is cool, but the joint Sony/Fossil MBW-100 watch was doing it five years ago. It's not even the first watch to connect to smart phones and run its own apps, as Allerta's inPulse watch has been doing that for years. They also claim to be "introducing the first ever capacitive touch display on curved surface." But Google and Samsung already introduced that feature in the Nexus S phone in 2010. Maybe they meant the first capacitive touch screen that's convex, not concave?

Alright, admittedly it's cool that the i'm Watch line will run Android -- even if it's a customization of the oldest version of Android in existence. Although, the high-resolution sapphire glass screen does look like a neat way to multitask between viewing contacts, images and incoming calls; listening to music; checking weather and appointments; and getting a variety of messaging and social notifications. It's pretty cool that it'll have a 3.5mm headphone, connection and power minijack, a microphone and a built-in speaker. And its rechargeable battery seems decent, offering up to a day of standby with Bluetooth enabled and up to 3 hours of talk on its speaker.
Blue Sky isn't at a loss for boastful claims or design cliches. But we'll see in January if developers and consumers have embraced their smart watch concept. In the meantime, they're currently taking 50 percent deposits on all pre-orders.

Credit: Discovery News

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HTC Rezound announced

HTC Rezound

HTC and Verizon Wireless have announced a new Beats Audio-integrated Android 2.3.4-based smartphone, the HTC Rezound. The new Verizon-exclusive droid supports the LTE network and will be HTC's first Beats Audio-improved offering in the U.S. market. It's also the company's first smartphone to incorporate a 1280 x 720 (720p) resolution screen.

The Rezound is quite a highly spec'd smartphone and may be a tough rival for the likes of the Motorola RAZR or Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Utilizing 720p resolution in its Super LCD display results in an impressive pixel density of 342 ppi (pixels per inch). For comparison, Samsung's Galaxy SII has a pixel density of around 218, while the iPhone 4's display is 326 ppi.
The new arrival will be sold with lightweight Beats headphones with built-in microphone and on-cable remote.
The Rezound offers an 8-megapixel camera located at the back equipped with autofocus, dual LED flash and an f/2.2 28mm wide-angle lens. A BSI sensor for improving low light performance is also present. The front facing camera comes with 2-megapixel resolution.
Processing is provided by a dual-core 1.5GHz Qualcomm MSM8660 CPU and 1GB of RAM. There's 16GB of built-in memory for user files and an additional 16GB via the bundled micro SD card. Connectivity options include GPS/a-GPS, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, micro USB, or audio jack. The Rezound works in hotspot mode, allowing it to share an internet connection with up to ten devices over WiFi.
Running the latest HTC Sense 3.5 UI, the Rezound initially will be Android 2.3.4-based, although Verizon Wireless ensures that an Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) update is on the way and will be available by early 2012.
Purchasing the HTC Rezound will be possible via Verizon Wireless contracts only by November 14, at a price of US$299.99 with a new two-year customer agreement. No word on availability in other countries at this point.

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Motorola RAZR introduces the new DROID RAZR

MOTOROLA DROID RAZR

In its day, the Motorola Razr  was by far the best-selling cellphone in America. Then came Apple with its iPhone, and since then Motorola has struggled in the cellular business. The original Razr was overrun by more recent smartphones, which browse the Web, send texts and emails, tell you where you are, and, in the case of the iPhone 4S with its Siri "virtual assistant," talk back to you.
Now Motorola is back with a new Razr, trying to recapture the magic of the original. The new phone is sleek. It's cool. It's thin. And it's a smartphone, running on the Android software marketed so successfully by Google -- which, as you may recall, announced in August it was buying Motorola Mobility.
Will it succeed? You, as a consumer, will be the final judge, of course. Early reviews are positive.
"Yes, it's another Android phone," writes Kevin Kelleher of Fortune, "but it's one that incorporates the sleek design elements in the hardware that made Motorola's Razr line of clamshell phones the last iconic phone before the rise of the smartphone."
But plaudits don't necessarily sell phones, as Kelleher agrees. "So it's just as easy to say Google will regret buying Motorola as it is to say it will look back on the deal as a shrewd move," he writes."
Others have their doubts.
"It's a solid Android device, but it's not going to be that blockbuster that the original Razr was," said Roger Entner of Recon Analytics.
"The huge difference the original had was its thinness," said Entner. "It's just that everyone else has it now too."
The smartphone marketplace, which changes quickly, has just changed dramatically. The new iPhone, Apple said, sold more than 4 million units in its first weekend, and is by far the top-selling handset. Android phones are more widely sold in the U.S. than phones with Apple's operating system -- but Android is spread among many brands.
Apple is also fearless about advertising the iPhone. Entner said it's spent more than $100 million a year on ads, compared to about $30 million for any other brand.
The Razr certainly won't make or break Motorola or its giant new owners at Google. But if you're in the market for a new smartphone, will you be attracted by the Razr of past years? The battle begins when the new Razr rolls out, probably on Nov. 10.
"The Motorola Razr is even made with Kevlar fiber," says its promotional material, "because a phone this arresting deserves protection."

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Sony announces first Android-based Walkman

Sony has taken the wraps off its first Android-based Walkman media player - the Z-1000. Running Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), Sony's would-be iPod touch rival comes well spec'd with its 4.3-inch WVGA (480x800) touchscreen, NVIDIA Tegra 2 1GHz dual-core CPU platform and 512MB of RAM.

The NW-Z1000 is equipped with "S-Master MX" sound processing, digital noise-cancellation and a dedicated "W" button for the music player app. Installing additional apps via Android Market is also possible.

File support includes MPEG-4, AVC, WMV (Full HD 1080p video playback at 30fps available), as well as MP3, ATRAC, ATRAC Advanced lossless, AAC, HE-AAC and WMA music files formats.

Connectivity comes courtesy of WiFi 802.11b/g/n, GPS, DLNA, Bluetooth 2.1 (with EDR, AVRCP, A2DP, OPP profiles supported) and HDMI output. The unit also features digital compass, G-sensor, built-in mono speaker, FM radio and its lithium ion battery promises up to 20 hours of music and 5 hours of video playback.

The NW-Z1000's dimensions are 134.4 × 70.9 × 11.1mm (5.29 x 2.79 x 0.4in) and it weighs 156 g (5.5 oz).

Sony Walkman NW-Z1000 will be offered in three versions - 16, 32 and 64GB - priced at JPY28,000 (US$365), JPY33,000 (US$430) and JPY43,000 (US$561) respectively. It's set to be released on December 10 in Japan but availability in other countries hasn't been confirmed at this point.

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LG OPTIMUS/REVIEW

One of the world’s thinnest and lightest Android smartphones, the LG Optimus Black has a dramatically brighter 4-inch LCD screen, creating a one-of-a-kind user experience unlike anything before. By using LG’s very own NOVA display technology, the screen is designed to be the brightest, clearest and most readable among mobile screens. The crystal-clear display not only lets users see the screen in direct sunlight but also provides a more natural web browsing experience by displaying truer colours. In addition, the LG Optimus Black comes with the latest technology, such as Wi-Fi Direct, a 2MP front-facing camera, lower battery consumption and launches on Android 2.2 to access over 150,000 apps.

NOVA Display:

NOVA display (the world’s first 700-nit IPS LCD) offers better outdoor visibility, clearer readability, more natural colours and 50% power saving compared to conventional LCDs

• The world’s best, high-tech brightness display.

• At noon you can easily read text in direct sunlight!

• Intelligent environment senses whether user is indoors and adjusts display for power saving.

More Efficient Battery Consumption

NOVA Display automatically adjusts its brightness sensing the amount of light needed, and saves 50% energy under regular settings. (compared to regular LCD).

Gesture UI

Gesture UI leads to the quicker and easier operation (via G key and simple gestures).

Slim And Light Body

Slim & light body, measuring 6mm at its thinnest point and 9.2mm at its thickest point, the LG Optimus Black weighs 109g and features a seamless uni-window front and an invisible receiver

Wi-Fi Direct Technology

Enjoy fast and easy data transfers without any AP(Access Point). Start sending and sharing at speeds 20-times-faster than Bluetooth 2.1.

Key Features

• NOVA display
• More Efficient Battery Consumption
• Gesture UI
• Slim & light body
• Wi-Fi Direct Technology

Basic Specification

Type                                                           Bar phone

RF Band                                                     850/900/1800/1900 – Edge 900/1700/2100 – HSPA 7.2/5.76

Battery, Max (mAh)                                   1,500

Display                                                       TFT LCD WVGA 4.0 Capacitive Touchscreen (Nova Display)

Dimension: L x W x D (mm)                       122 x 64 x 9.2

Powered by Android™                              Yes

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Special Gadgets/Huawei Vision is an Android Smartphone Crafted from Aluminum Uni-body

Huawei Vision is an Android Smartphone Crafted from Aluminum Uni-body

After revealing its upcoming 7-inch MediaPad, Huawei has now announced its Gingerbread-based smartphone, which is apparently named as Vision. The Huawei Vision sports an aluminum uni-body frame and is powered by a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.

The smartphone has a 3.7-inch capacitive toucshcreen, 5 megapixel camera with LED flash and can record 720p HD videos. It features Bluetooth, GPS, WiFi and FM radio connectivity and has 2GB of on-board storage expandable up to 32GB.

The Huawei Vision will also debut the company’s proprietary 3D user interface which includes ‘multiple 3D panels on the homescreen.’

There is no word on the pricing of this smartphone, all we know is that it will hit select market this September.

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Samsung Galaxy S II /Samsung Galaxy S IIReview

Samsung Galaxy S II

The Galaxy S II builds on Samsung's successful line of Galaxy Android phones with new display technology, a dual-core processor, and 4G speeds. The Galaxy S II is available in Europe and Asia, but Samsung has not yet announced a U.S. carrier nor details about pricing and availability. How does the Galaxy S II stack up against the other 4G dual-core beasts we've seen this year?

Design

The Galaxy S II is thin and light, less plasticky than some of the previous-generation Galaxy S phones. Overall, the phone has an attractive, minimalist look, but it doesn't feel as well-constructed as the HTC Thunderbolt 4G or the upcoming HTC Sensation on T-Mobile. One nice feature is that the face is made of Gorilla Glass, which is the same scratch-resistant glass that the Apple iPhone 4. Glossy black plastic covers the edges of the phone, while the battery cover is a somewhat flimsy textured plastic.

Measuring 4.9 inches tall by 2.6 inches wide by 0.3 inch thick, the Galaxy S II is remarkably svelte. But given that it has a 4.3-inch display, it still takes up a lot of space in your pocket or handbag. Nevertheless, at 4 ounces, it's comfortable to hold for long periods of time.

The button layout is a bit strange on the Galaxy S II with the Google Search button missing and Touch-sensitive Menu and Back buttons flanking a physical Home button. The volume rocker is on the left spine of the phone and the Power button on the right. The micro-USB port sits at the bottom of the phone while a 3.5mm headphone jack is at the top. Noticeably absent are an HDMI port (for connecting your phone to your HDTV) and a physical camera shutter button

Display

The Galaxy S II's display is gorgeous--one of the best we've ever seen. It uses Samsung's Super AMOLED Plus display technology, which we first saw at CES. According to Samsung, Super AMOLED Plus displays have 50 percent more subpixels than the first-generation Super AMOLED displays and perform even better that their predecessors in bright light. With a 4.3-inch display, the newest Galaxy's screen is 0.3 inch longer diagonally than the screens on the older-gen phones.

Colors looked bright, details were crisp, and the viewing angles were very good. Blacks were deep and colors were richly saturated without being overdone. Even when held in direct sunlight, the Galaxy S II's display remained incredibly visible.

Revamped TouchWiz 4.0 With Gingerbread

 With the latest version of Android--version 2.3 (aka Gingerbread), the Galaxy S II though runs a Samsung-built overlay, TouchWiz 4.0, most of the new features in Gingerbread are untouched.

The Galaxy S II's keyboard isn't the native Android one, but it retains the multitouch key-chording feature (you can simultaneously press Shift and a letter to get a symbol or number--no need to switch between modes) and the ability to use your voice to correct words as you type. The copy-and-paste feature behaves more-or-less the same as in the standard Android setup, but it looks slightly different. You can quickly select text just by pressing and holding a word. Then you can adjust the chunk of text that you want to select by dragging the arrows that appear around the text. The Samsung's keyboard keys are slightly longer and more widely spaced than the stock Gingerbread keyboard keys, and the font is a bit larger on the keys. The Samsung keyboard replaces the emoticon key on the Android keyboard with a return key, which is a more useful function. And Swype fanatics can rejoice: The Galaxy S II comes with everybody's favorite keyboard app preinstalled.

The user interface for the cameras differs from the stock Gingerbread version, but you can still switch between the front-facing camera and the back-facing one via a consistent icon at the top of the camera viewer. Google introduced this small but useful feature in Gingerbread in anticipation of an onslaught of smartphones with front-facing cameras due out this year.

Multimedia

The new version of TouchWiz comes with new Music, Game, and Readers Hubs that join the Social and Media Hubs. Powered by 7Digital, the Music Hub is essentially an Amazon MP3 alternative. You can also use the Music Hub to organize your own library of music. I preferred using the built-in TouchWiz music player, which gets a nice facelift in this version of the software.

The Game Hub, powered by Gameloft, organizes games for purchase by social games and HD games. The Readers Hub is broken into three services: Kobo (for Books), Zinio (for Magazines), and Press Display (for News).

Like all Galaxy phones, the S II provides the Media Hub for your movie and TV-watching pleasure. Video looked fantastic on the handset's display and played back smoothly. Even if you don't like Samsung's Media Hub, you're going to want to watch a lot of movies and TV shows on this phone.

Camera

The Galaxy S II has an 8-megapixel camera plus a front-facing camera for video calls. Impressive with the image quality of photos, both indoor shots and outdoor ones. The shutter speed on the camera is fast enough to capture photos of sports, kids, and other quick-moving subjects.

Performance

The Samsung Galaxy S II is branded as a 4G phone and Samsung sent it to us with a T-Mobile SIM card. According to Samsung, the Galaxy S II can achieve HSPA+ download speeds of 21 megabits per second and HSUPA upload speeds of 5.76 mbps.

The Galaxy S 4G speed is averaged at 3.38 mbps for downloads and 1.13 mbps for uploads and it did outperform both AT&T's HSPA+ network and Sprint's WiMax network.

The Galaxy S II is powered by a dual-core processor, and the dual-core power was apparent in just about every aspect of the phone's performance. Scrolling was fluid in apps and Web pages, video played back smoothly, and I zipped speedily through the phone's menus.

Bottom Line

If you're in the market for a new phone this spring, you're going to have some tough decisions to make. A lot of hot phones have arrived or will debit soon, including the HTC Thunderbolt, the T-Mobile G2X, the Motorola Atrix 4G, and the upcoming HTC Sensation and HTC EVO 3D. But when it comes to performance and display quality, the Galaxy S II is pretty much unbeatable.

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