Nokia Lumia 920 Review..

Specs : 

*4.5-inch PureMotion HD+ ClearBlack LCD touchscreen (768x1280 pixels)

*1.5GHz dual-core processor with Adreno 225 GPU

*1GB RAM, 32GB internal memory

*8 megapixel rear camera with autofocus, LED flash, 1080P video recording, 1.3 MP front cam with 720P video recording

*3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, microUSB

*2000mAH battery that lasts around 13 to 14 hours of average usage

*Windows Phone 8

Nokia has launched Lumia 920, its flagship smartphone, in India today. Much rides on this handset. Nokia believes the device will help the company come back in the smartphone game and match competitors like Samsung and Apple. Nokia fans — and there are many in India — are hoping that finally they will have a device that can compare favourably to the likes of iPhone and Galaxy S III. 

So, does Lumia 920 meet the expectations? Is it worth picking this device over the high-end Androids if you are looking to buy a smartphone today?

Answer: No. Hardware is fantastic, but the software lets the phone down.

Positive Points : 

1. The 4.5-inch screen on Lumia 920 is excellent. It has very good touch sensitivity and shows punchy colours. It is bright enough to be usable in direct sunlight! With a resolution of 1280 x 768 pixels, the Lumia 920 screen is broader than the screens with 720 resolution, making it better for consuming multimedia content or web browsing. The high-pixel density means text is rendered crisply. Screen is flawless for all practical purposes.

2. Lumia 920 has a design similar to that of Lumia 800. With squared off top and bottom sides, it has a distinct personality. The phone uses a unibody polycarbonate shell with buttons made of tough ceramic. It's a classy design. But pay attention to the colour. Models with black and cyan colour have a matte finish while red, yellow and white have glossy finish. Glossy finish looks better but matte finish is more resistant to scratches and greasy fingerprints.

3. Lumia 920 has a camera with optical image stabilization. In our use we found the camera to be fantastic. It shoots pictures that have lots of details and accurate colours. Due to optical image stabilization, it is possible to shoot very good quality FullHD videos with Lumia 920. Another area where it excels — and trumps all other smartphones — is low-light photography. You can shoot in complete darkness and still get images that show something. Evenings and indoor shots are no problem for this phone. We would have termed Lumia 920 the point-and-shoot camera killer but it has one flaw. Lumia 920 uses a slower shutter speed by default to get better images in low-light. This means a user has to keep hands very steady for seconds after hitting the camera button. If you don't hold the hands steady, photos do not come out as sharp as they ought to be.

4. We have talked about Windows Phone 8 earlier. But just to recap, let us say it again: The Metro interface in Windows Phone operating software is unique and beautiful. It is colourful, which goes well with yellow, blue and red Lumia phones. It is also well optimized and has slick animations. There is no lag. Apps respond to touch quickly and web browsing is hassle free.

5. Lumia 920 comes with Nokia Drive and Nokia Music. Both are excellent services. Drive has detailed maps and is mostly accurate in showing directions. Nokia's Music app, which has access to lakhs of songs, allows users to stream (or download) songs for free for one year.

Negative Points : 

1. The biggest problem with Lumia 920 is Windows Phone operating system. Microsoft has improved it a lot with the recent version but it is not enough. Multitasking, for example, remains an issue. Except a handful of apps like music player, the others are paused as soon as they are in the background. Once you switch to these apps again, they are resumed. This is fine for apps like video players but not for apps like Twitter or IM+, which have to pull in data in real time. Microsoft has made the process of 'resuming' faster in Windows Phone 8 but users still have to wait before apps open and they get information. Similarly, there is a notification system in WP8 but it is not terribly useful.

2. Windows Phone continues to lag behind iOS and Android as far as apps are concerned. Good and powerful apps are hard to find in Windows Phone store and that limits the usability of Lumia 920. The situation is particularly bad if you are used to Google services like Youtube, Gmail and Google Talk.

3. Lumia 920 is a good looking phone. But it is also thick and bulky. In fact, at over 180 grams, it is one of the heaviest smartphones in the market currently.

Samsung Galaxy S II Plus..

Samsung has officially announced the rumoured Galaxy S II Plus. The new smartphone comes with Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), layered with TouchWiz Nature user interface. This device has 8GB of onboard memory with support for microSD card of up to 64GB capacity. Other additions include Smart Stay, Direct Call, Smart Alert, Popup Video, S Voice, Voice Unlock, Buddy Photo Share, AllShare Play and Samsung Hubs. The phone will have 1,650mAh battery (100mAh more than Galaxy S II's) and have the option of NFC. Samsung galaxy S II Plus shares most of the hardware specifications with the original model, such as 4.3-inch SuperAMOLED screen with WVGA resolution, dual-core 1.2GHz processor and 8MP camera.

The South Korean manufacturer has not revealed the pricing and launch date of the device as of now. Samsung is yet to launch to launch previously announced devices like Galaxy S III Mini and Galaxy Grand in India, though the former is already available in certain countries. Going by the features and specifications, Galaxy S II Plus differs from its older sibling mainly on the software side. Reports say that Galaxy S II, which launched with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), is likely to get the Android 4.1 update in the next couple of months.

Pebble E-Paper Watch..

The advanced wristwatches revealed at International CES in Las Vegas included the much -anticipated Pebble E-Paper Watch that raised a record 10.2 million dollars from everyday investors at Kickstarter.com in 2012. It was designed to connect to any Apple or Android smarphone. Pebble chief executive Eric Migicovsky said the Pebble was now water-resistant, could control music on a phone, and featured a magnetometer for future GPS uses. It would deliver SMS and phone call updates, email and calendar alerts, Facebook and Twitter messages, and featured an energy-efficient E-Paper screen that could be viewed in sunlight, the report said. 

According to the report, Migicovsky said during the biggest international tech event that despite a five-month delay, the smartwatch would begin shipping to buyers in late January and would include extra features. According to the report, the high-profile watch was not the only smartwatch to feature at CES. 

Bluetrek released an iPhone-compatible watch called Cookoo with a seemingly traditional clock face hiding light-up icons for phone calls, SMS and Facebook messages, calendar events and when the phone's battery is low, the report said.

BenQ unveils world’s first full-HD projector..

BenQ has introduced the world's first Full-HD short-throw video projectors, W1070 and W1080ST, at the CES 2013 and India simultaneously. The two products are available at Rs 100000 and Rs 110000 respectively, in the country. 

BenQ W1080ST is able to project 100-inch big screen from a distance of 1.5-meter. Along with W1070, this product supports multiple forms of 3D videos by directly connecting via 2 HDMI 1.4 ports to various devices like Blu-Ray, 3D broadcasting, video games, PC etc with Nvidia 3DTV PC connectivity. Other features of these two products are built-in 10W speakers and SmartEco, a power saving mechanism.In addition, the W1070 and W1080ST are ISFccc-certified by the Imaging Science Foundation. ISFccc enables the products to render calibrated picture along with two optimised modes -- ISF Day and ISF Night - in order to enhance viewing experience. 

BenQ's SmartEco technology has provided perfect DLP projectors for use in home entertainment. This technology can save up to 70% of lamp power consumption and lower maintenance costs. Rajeev Singh, country head and general manager, BenQ India, said, "Both projectors deliver full HD 1080p quality and are equipped with 3D capabilities through which you can enjoy all the fun of motion sensing and 3D games enhanced in size through the use of a home entertainment projector taking home entertainment & gaming to a whole new level." 

Top 5 3D TVs of 2012 (Till Date)..

1. LG 55LM9600 (55-inch LED)

Price:  2,58,200 Approximately

The 3D television from LG comes with brilliant 3D visuals. The colour quality of the pictures hasn’t been compromised on and the images have almost close to reality colours. Like all other gadgets sleekness is being followed in the design of television sets as well. With its high picture quality this TV 

has almost become sort of a yard stick in the world of 3D televisions. The TV has a 55 inch screen and it comes with Wireless Display (WiDi) and “Dual Play” i.e. an option for multiplayer games. The eye ware just weigh 13 grams, the LG 3D eyewear is extremely comfortable to wear and are made in such a way that it would fit comfortably over reading glasses as well. But what the eye wear misses out on is the nose pads that would have given the glasses a better fit. They are available in two colour variants, black and blue. All in all the LG 55LM9600 is a yard stick in the matter of design of 3 D televisions.

2. Panasonic Viera TH-P55VT50 (55-inch plasma)

Price:  1,55,000 Approximately

The new Panasonic Viera VT 50 has retained most of the features from its predecessor including its design. The television has retained the one sheet of glass bezel design and a low-profile stand. But underneath this an improved Infinite Black Ultra Panel and filter have been installed. This addition promises the viewers with perfect colour combination even bright light conditions. Along with this the company has added the option of web browser to the TV which was missing from the previous 3D television. The improved 3D goggles from Panasonic weigh less by 10 grams. 

The 27 grams eye ware feature Bluetooth infrared of the infrared connection and they also have been enabled with the option of smooth conversation between 3D and 2D. 

Panasonic has indeed succeeded in delivering a new and improved version of their previous 3D television.

3.  LG 47LM8600 (47-inch LED)

Price:  1,98,935 Approximately

LG 47LM8600 is powered with amazing 3D performance. This is the flagship LED model from LG. The features of this 3D television set is similar to that of the LG 55LM9600.  It comes with Intel’s Wireless Display (Wi-Di) and a new magic remote. The 47-inch television set produces flicker-free and

absolutely clear 3D visuals which make viewing TV a pleasure. The television set is also enabled with a dimming capability which delivers good viewing even in the 2D mode. Though a major fault that we can find with this set is that the speakers don’t live up to the expectations. The sound system lacks the finesse to match the beautiful picture quality. The eye wear that comes with this 3D television set is similar to that of ones with LG 55LM9600. It weighs only 13 grams and is available in two colours; black and blue. The television is a winner in every category except the audio which proves to be a major fall out.

4. Panasonic Viera TH-L47DT50 (47-inch LED)

Price: 154,718 Approximately

Panasonic Viera DT50 3D LED TV is the successor to Panasonic WT50 series. Look wise there isn’t much different, the DT 50 is also ultra thin bezel design but at a much lower price than its predecessor. The TV comes with new functions like Web browsers, Wi-Fi and the back light for the remote control.

The 3D television set delivers as a solid performer. The pictures are crisp and smooth and they are very close to the original colours. But this isn’t the general feeling towards the visuals. Some finds the bluish colors and the grayish black very unnatural and an inhibition to enjoy the visuals. The eye ware from Panasonic along with this TV weighs only 30 grams. They are designed in such a way that they fit just perfectly over prescription glasses as well. The goggles have a full wrap-around frame that cut out the surrounding lights. It also comes with adjustable rubber nose pads that fit well over the viewer’s nose.

5.  LG 55EM9600 (55-inch OLED)

Price: RS.55,000 Approximately

Organic LED (OLED) is considered the future of crystal clearing television viewing experience. Before LG came out with a 55-inch OLED TV this technology was only available in 11-inch and 15-inch sets. LG wasn’t alone; they were joined by Samsung in the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2012 where they launched their version of the 55-inch models.

LG in order to differentiate their TV from the rest have launched a White OLED (WOLED) technology. WOLED means that there would be a thin white strip on top of the red, green and blue (RGB) colours.With this addition the pictures seen on the television will have more accurate and closer to life hues in comparison to the normal RGB OLED ones. The eye ware along with television is definitely something to look out for. The eye ware can almost pass off as beautiful expensive sunglasses. This time around LG hasn’t faltered with the nose pads. The nose pads are extremely soft and comfortable.

Sony Xperia P and Xperia U at MWC 2012..

The WhiteMagic refers to an extra white line of pixels added to the good old RGB. This phone is stuck on Android 2.3.7 and won’t get hit with Android 4.0 until the second quarter. Also, you are chained to Sony’s extensive customizations, which is a grave disappointment. From Sony’s side it’s a good thing, because you have their hooks in you by being directly plugged into their content services. However, the camera is instantaneous. The shot you take when the camera’s in sleep mode takes only one second.

Then there is the makeshift TV technology Sony slapped on to impress their most idiot of customers. Yes, there is a so-called SmartDock and TV launcher app. Your display will be reflected on a TV through the HDMI port. If you have a TV remote you can remotely control it. If not, then plug in the mouse and keyboard, yes to your phone, and you will probably need a little duct tape to hold it all together. The worst part of it all is that the Launcher is just a slap dash of shortcuts to regular Android apps.

Sony’s other vague attempt to titillate the market is the Xperia U, which was also announced during MWC 2012. It’s got a 3.5” display a 1GHz CPU, 5MP camera, and the xLoud sound processor. It is housed in a compact design. Notifications can be customized to display your favorite color. Even the bar color can be customized, but also set to match the colors of any photo displayed at the moment. Color seems to be what Xperia U is all about. It will hit the public’s hands in the second quarter as well.

The Xperia P and Xperia U are part of the Xperia NXT series. Since the demise of Ericsson, Sony has tried striking it rich with Xperia’s of all kinds. None have made it so far. In fact, the CMO seems to be delirious. He thinks that separating all the different functions each into its own phone is appealing to the public.

Near Filed Communication (NFC) is what they all share in common. Place a tag somewhere and when you are near it you tap it and the phone changes its configuration accordingly. However, the question arises, why would I want a physical tag when I could tap a shortcut on my display? This is yet another silly ideas Sony has come up with to fool people into buying their products. It is as if Sony knows they make poor products and need gimmicks to sell them.

Sony Tablet P Releases 4th March..

AT&T has finally confirmed at MWC that it is going to bring Sony Tablet P this March. Its a 2 year contract with the carrier and one will need to fork out $399.99 for the device. The tablet features two 5.5 inch display screens which unfold like a case of spectaculars. There are dual purposes for the screens, when viewing a video you may use both the screens but while playing a game one may use a single screen for controlling and the other for viewing. The tablet will provide HSPA+ speeds for its users and hence any 4G claims by AT&T should be put aside. The device sports a 1 GHz dual-core processor, 1 GB of RAM, a 5 MP camera and 6 GB of internal storage with a standard connectivity interface provided for Bluetooth. Off contract one can buy this device for $549.99.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 Unleashed 1st March..

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 will be launched by Verizon Wireless this march. The tablet features a 7.7 inch super AMOLED display running on android 3.2 (Honeycomb). It comes with a nice resolution of 1280X800 pixels having an excellent picture quality. It is powered by a 1.4 GHz dual core processor. It has 2 cameras, the front being 2 MP and the one at the rear being 3.2 MP which can shoot up to 720p videos.

One wonders why Samsung has not gone for the Ice Cream Sandwich version of OS, however it more than makes up by providing the Peel Smart Remote application. This app turns the tablet to an universal remote. However we feel there is a big set back in  pricing as Verizon Wireless is charging $499 for a 2 year contract which means one ends up paying $ 30 for 2 GB of LTE data.