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Nokia Lumia 720 preview: a slim and 'trendy' Windows Phone 8 handset for the social networking set (update: video)
It's what the 920 should've been -- the Lumia 720, that is. And that's likely what other press will claim, as well. From the moment Nokia laid the slim, 4.3-inch device in our hands, it was apparent the company has a different user in its sights: the hyper-social and style-obsessed. With a profile of 9mm, the Lumia 720 is now the thinnest Windows Phone 8 device in the Finnish company's lineup. And it's also the "trendiest," as Nokia will no doubt remind you in its eventual marketing. So, you can forget about dazzling specs -- the 720's demo supposedly isn't concerned with bleeding-edge tech. In fact, some of what you'll find in the 720 can also be found in its lowest-end cousin, the 520; like that dual-core 1GHz Snapdragon processor and 800 x 480 Sensitive Touch display. The question then is: what makes this Lumia sleek enough for the fashion crowd (and their tiny purses and skinny jeans)? At its base, the 720 is all about color(s) and camera, just not in the way the Lumia 920 was. For starters, the slight-looking 720 will come in five different shades (matte: cyan, yellow, black and red; glossy: white) and includes a 1.3-megapixel front facer with wide-angle lens and a new 6.7-megapixel rear camera module with f/1.9 lens (developed with Carl Zeiss labs) for low-light performance. There's also a new digital lens Nokia's pre-installed, dubbed Glam Me, to give selfies (aka personal portrait shots) an extra bit of sheen -- something Nokia tells us its Asian users are clamoring for. Apparently, this new filter adds the ability to whiten teeth, widen eyes, soften skin and even overlay a rainy-day window or magazine-like layouts to shots.
Lenovo outs dual-SIM waterproof A660 ICS smartphone, likely for China only
Lenovo is burning up the Chinese smartphone market, and it's just announced a new midrange 4-inch ICS model, the A660, with two twists: dual-SIM slots and a waterproof case. The IP67 certification and Gorilla Glass also make it dustproof, but apart from that, the device carries pedestrian specs: Android 4.0, 1GHz dual-core processor, 800 x 480 screen and 5-megapixel rear camera. As with other recent models in China aiming down the middle of the road, the A660 boasts several colors, and supports WCDMA + GSM networks with dual-SIM / dual-standby capability. There's no word yet on how much or when, but don't start shopping for lime green or burnt orange furniture to match just yet -- few of Lenovo's smartphones have crossed the Great Wall.
Samsung Focus 2 review
Ready for Samsung's latest entrant to the Windows Phone game? Hopefully you answered "yes," because we're about to take you through an in-depth look at such a device: the Focus 2. Around the time that we United States-based Engadgeteers were lusting over Nokia's Lumia 800 and getting to know the HTC Titan, Samsung introduced its Focus S and lower-tiered Focus Flash WP7.5 handsets. Redmond's hardware restrictions haven't exactly changed much since then, begging the question as to how the Focus 2 fits in as a late follow-up to the original Focus from back in 2010. The bulk of the answer, of course, is LTE. This handset is the only other Windows Phone aside from the Lumia 900 and HTC Titan II to feature such connectivity on Ma Bell's network. That, and it's priced at just $50 dollars on a two-year commitment. Is it a veritable steal like the Focus Flash proved to be, though? Join us past the break where we'll lay it all out.
Samsung's Focus 2 arrives at AT&T today, a slice of LTE-equipped Mango for $50
Not long after Samsung's SGH-i667 "Mandel" looked like it would never see the light of day, the Windows Phone 7.5 device made its official debut at CTIA, dubbed as the Focus 2. As expected, the phone is officially on sale today at AT&T retailers across the US, giving folks another option aside from the HTC Titan II or flagship Lumia 900 for a fix of LTE and Mango on the network. To refresh your memory, you'll find a 4-inch Super AMOLED display and VGA camera up front, and a 5MP shooter on back that capture 720p video. Internally, there's a 1.4GHz single-core CPU (exceedingly par for the course for Windows Phone at this point) and a 1,750mAh battery to hopefully ensure you'll have enough juice to get through the day. Despite the speedy connectivity, we'd be remiss not to mention that the Focus 2 packs a paltry 8GB of non-expandable storage and only comes in Glossy Pure White -- but for fifty bucks under a new two-year agreement, we won't kvetch too much. Our full review is coming soon, so hit the source link for more details in the meantime.
Xtex's My Tablet gets you 7 inches of tasty ICS for just 150 bones (update)
Tablets are are great and all, but they sure can be expensive -- especially if you want one running a newer version of Android. Step in Xtex's $150 My Tablet, a 7-inch device loaded with Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0.3, a 16GB HDD (expandable to 48 GB via its TF card slot) and a 1.5Ghz CPU complimented by 1GB of RAM. That's not all, though, as the device also packs a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, an HDMI output and mini and standard USB ports. That low price does mean you'll be making do with a screen resolution of 800 x 480 and only WiFi connectivity, but you'll get to choose from its very neapolitan-esque black, white and pink colorways. Considering the My Tablet is nearly half the price of an Andy Pad Pro, it sure does looks appetizing on paper -- as long as you keep your expectations reasonable, that is. Satisfy your sweet tooth with more images in the gallery below and the press release after the break. Update: Apparently, this tablet isn't as new as it seems. As it would turn out, it looks to be a re-badge of the Zync Z990 that's sold in India. Update 2: Xtex has contacted us to clarify the My Tablet's relationship to the Zync Z990 stating "...although we do have the same outer shell (chose from an already created mold to cut down pricing to end consumer) all the parts and etc. are completely different from the Zync."
Lehmann Aviation's LFPV UAV packs GPS, autopilot, 11MP cam, 1080p video, yours for $2,352
Sure, an AR.Drone 2.0 will afford you 720p HD video recording in the skies for just 300 dollars, but how does 1080p with 11 megapixels of sensor sound in comparison? That's exactly what Lehmann Aviation is offering on its new LFPV civil UAV. This $2,352 (1790€) kit is far less expensive than the company's $17K LP960 from a few years back, but it certainly isn't lacking in the drool inducing features department -- and yes, it'll capture straight up photographs, too. Apart from letting you conduct reconnaissance of your local strip mall, the LFPV packs a "live data connection" to keep you informed about its GPS coordinates and altitude, among others things, like how soon you'll need to recharge. Better yet, it uses the same Ground Control System as Lehmann's other flyers (perfect for when it's time to upgrade), offering an 800 x 480 live video stream of your journey and total control of where you're piloting the aircraft. Best of all, the LFPV even packs autopilot if you need to take a break from the controls . We'd be remiss not to point out Eye3's $999 bring-your-own-camera hexicopter for those already equipped with a beefy ILC shooter, but if the LFPV is right up (or over) your alley, you'll find a full press release and video just past the break.
Toys R Us' Nabi Android tablet lets junior play while mommy drinks
True, mommy may not have to drink, but as long as Toys R Us' Nabi tablet is in the house, that cabinet door will always be open. Designed to distract kids aged six years and up, this tot-sized Android slate boasts a seven-inch, 800 x 480 capacitive touchscreen display, 4GB of onboard storage, and a 533MHz dual-core Cortex-A9 CPU. These certainly aren't the most scintillating specs we've ever come across (even by kiddo tablet standards), but keep in mind that we're talking about six-year-olds, here. They don't know anything. Plus, they'll probably be distracted by the Nabi's customized UI, tailored for so-called "kiddified" browsing, reading and TV watching. If you ever get a hankering to get in on the action yourself, you can always send the beast to time out and play with the tablet yourself, thanks to a built-in "Mommy Mode" that provides a more mature Android experience. No word yet on whether Toys R Us plans to introduce a "Daddy Mode" (or, for that matter, a "Postman Mode"), but that's probably a conversation for another day. Hands-off parents can pre-order the Nabi for $200, at the source link below.
Andy Pad, Andy Pad Pro now available within Europe, for not a lot of money
If you've been twiddling your thumbs in anticipation of the Andy Pad's arrival, twiddle no more, because the budget-friendly Android slate is now available across most of Europe. Both the 8GB model and its 16GB Andy Pad Pro counterpart appeared on the British manufacturer's website today, with the former priced at £129 (about $208) and the latter running for £179 (roughly $289). Both of the seven-inch tablets run on Gingerbread and offer up to six hours of battery life, though the Pro features a capacitive touchscreen (1024 x 600), compared with its little brother's 800 x 480 resistive display. If you need a little low-cost Android love in your life, hit up the source link to grab one for yourself.
Pandigital unveils Nova, Planet and Star Android tablets, 'flagship' device coming next month
It's shaping up to be a busy month for Pandigital. Two days after we spotted the Nova at Best Buy, the astronomically-inclined company has decided to officially unveil the Android tablet alongside the Planet and Star, with a fourth "flagship" device slated for release in September. Each of the three slates is powered by an A9 Cortex processor, and boasts a seven-inch touchscreen display (800x600 resolution on the Planet and Nova and 800x480 on the Star, pictured above). As far as storage goes, both the Planet and the Star offer 2GB of onboard memory, with the Nova packing 4GB, and all three offer WiFi and HDMI connectivity. The slabs also come preloaded with Barnes & Noble's eBookstore app and provide access to GetJar's app download store, rather than the Android Market. Honeycomb enthusiasts, however, should probably look elsewhere, as both the Planet and the Star run Android 2.2 Froyo, while the Nova ships with Gingerbread. But considering their prices, that shortcoming may be easy to overlook. The Planet, available now, will run you $189, as will the Nova, scheduled to ship later this week (though, again, you can also find it on Best Buy, for $170). The Star, meanwhile, will hit stores in mid-August, for a paltry $159. Rocket past the break for some photos of the Nova and Planet, along with more details, in the full press release.
T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide review
Not too long ago, things were pretty simple in T-Mobile's Android land. For us (the nerds, geeks, power users, early adopters, and other misbegotten social deviants) there was the G series of phones with plain Android, culminating recently with LG's delightful G2x. If you wanted to buy your mom an Android smartphone, you'd point her at the myTouch series of handsets with custom HTC Sense-based skins, like last winter's myTouch 4G. Life got a bit more complicated with the introduction of LG's Optimus T, Samsung's Galaxy S 4G, and other devices that don't neatly fit into the carrier's grand branding scheme. Well, fear not! T-Mobile and HTC went ahead and refreshed last summer's lovely myTouch 3G Slide with a dash of dual-core tech lifted right from HTC's Sensation flagship and a bespoke 8 megapixel shooter said to be "the most advanced camera of any smartphone". Those are fighting words... so does the myTouch 4G Slide (as it's called) beat the likes of Samsung's Galaxy S II, Sony Ericsson's Xperia Arc, and Nokia's N8 in terms of imaging performance? Is the sliding keyboard as pleasant to use as its predecessor? And most importantly, is this your mom's next phone? Read on for our full review. %Gallery-129747%
Archos unveils bare-bones Arnova 7 Android tablet, priced at $99
We caught a brief glimpse of Archos' new Arnova 7 tablet when it hit the FCC last week and now, we have a few more details on the company's affordable Android-based slate. Though there's no information on its RAM or processing capacity, the latest addition to the Arnova clan boasts a seven-inch, resistive touchscreen LCD with 800x480 resolution, supports 720p HD playback, and offers 4GB of flash memory. Running on Froyo, this WiFi-enabled slab will give you access to the AppsLib store, rather than the Android Market, and won't come with any of the front- or rear-facing cameras you'd expect from higher-end products. But, then again, it's pretty hard to argue with any tablet priced at just $99. No word yet on when the Arnova 7 will start shipping, but we'll let you know as soon as we find out.
Droid Incredible 2 review
It wasn't that long ago that we were jonesing for a Nexus One on Verizon. What HTC gave us instead was the Droid Incredible, with the same 1GHz Snapdragon CPU and gorgeous 3.7-inch AMOLED display -- not to mention a better camera (8 megapixel vs. five), 8GB of built-in flash storage, an optical trackpad, HTC's Sense UI on top of Eclair, and a dash of funky industrial design. The Incredible was an impressive phone with a lovely camera, marred only by questionable battery life and lack of supply, forcing HTC to build a Super LCD-equipped model to satisfy demand. Judging by the popularity of the Incredible, it came as no surprise that following HTC's announcement at MWC, the Incredible S eventually became Verizon's Droid Incredible 2. With a 4-inch Super LCD display, global CDMA / GSM radio, front-facing camera, updated internals (including 768 MB of RAM), trick capacitive buttons, and a Froyo-flavored serving of Sense, the Incredible 2 seems like a worthy successor to last year's Incredible. Does it live up to our expectations or is it just another fish in the crowded sea of Android? Does it significantly improve upon the original formula or is it merely a refresh? Hit the break for our review. %Gallery-124397%
T-Mobile G2x review
It's only been a few weeks since the Optimus 2X crossed the desk of our European review bureau as the first known dual-core smartphone in the universe. Now LG's wunderkind has made its way across the pond and landed on US soil to be reborn as the G2x on T-Mobile. While the hardware remains the same elegant Tegra 2-infused slab of glass, metal and plastic, the software has been liberated from the shackles of LG's UI customizations into a serving of vanilla Froyo -- the exact same approach T-Mobile took when it introduced the Desire Z as the G2 without HTC's custom Sense skin last fall. Unlike previous G-series phones, the G2x ditches the physical keyboard for a 4-inch WVGA display with HDMI output and an 8 megapixel camera with 1080p video capture. Beyond the transition from messaging-centric device to multimedia powerhouse, what else is different about the hardware? Is plain Android a vast improvement over the lackluster software that shipped on the Optimus 2X? How does the G2x fare against T-Mobile's current flagship, the Samsung Galaxy S 4G? Find out in our full review after the break. %Gallery-121708%
Eken's Android-powered MID looks mighty nice for $100
Okay, so the last time we told you about an inexpensive Android tablet/MID things didn't turn out so well. So, this time we bring you one to appreciate from afar -- no credit card needed nor, as you'll see, wanted. It's seven-inch, 800 x 480 device from Eken that is selling for $680 RMB in China. That translates to $99.53 currently that, at first glimpse, looks to be quite a bargain. Sure, it has only 2GB of storage, but you can expand that to 32GB with SD. The VIA 8505 processor certainly won't be confused for a Snapdragon but despite that the device pledges only two hours of battery life on a charge. To top it off it's stuck with good 'ol Android 1.5 installed, leaving us to conclude that this is hardly a bargain after all. Shucks.
Is LG going Droid hunting with its C710 Aloha Android smartphone?
Android phones are getting ever faster and, with each iteration, ever bigger. The Droid was large and in charge when it was announced, the Nexus One a little taller and a little speedier, and HTC's EVO gives the slab moniker new credence. Now there's talk that LG is getting in on the big and beautiful game, with an Android smartphone called the C710 Aloha. It's said to sport an 800 x 480 screen like the EVO and N1, but unlike those two will have a full QWERTY keyboard. It's also said to offer 802.11n WiFi along with GPRS, UMTS, HSDPA and HSUPA connectivity. Nothing is confirmed at this point, but a device called the C710 was given WiFi Alliance approval recently and, more convincing, a user agent profile file has been found, confirming the resolution and wireless capabilities. If true, the Aloha could provide to be a worthy alternative to the Droid for those who want a phone with a little more to love, and a keyboard to boot.
Ainol's V9000HDX 'Megatron' PMP looks lovely, does 1080p, freezes its enemies in blocks of ice
Ainol's V6000 series had great specs, but sadly rocked a GPS-worthy aesthetic. The V8000 players went for something a little more stylish, but also a lot more vanilla. Now we're up to the V9000 series and we finally have a look that's sophisticated and distinctive -- and a little creepy with that "please help I'm frozen over here" wallpaper. It's displayed on a 4.8-inch, 800 x 480 capacitive touchscreen, though the device is capable of rendering 1080p video out its HDMI port for display onto something a little bigger. The UI seems a little busy but very functional, and with 16GB of storage, an FM tuner, and a 2450mAh battery it should keep you entertained even on the longest of commutes. Price and availability here in the States was not mentioned, but you weren't really expecting it would be, were ya? Update: We got a comment from voodoo indicating that this is now believed to be a fake. While we're not entirely sure who to believe at this point with conflicting information on a variety of forums, given that Ainol has still not posted any confirmation of this device on its site it's not looking particularly good. If it is a fake we're hoping the company pulls out all the stops to identify the perpetrators -- and then hires them.
HP's DreamScreen 130 digiframe puts on a Facebook and Pandora show for the FCC
Yes, it's yet another a digital photo frame, but HP's next entrant looks like it could be something special, making a stop by the FCC and taking its full manual with it, thus opening all of its mysteries and functions to the wild. Available in two sizes, 10.2- and 13.3-inches at 800 x 480 and 1,280 x 800 resolutions (respectively), the DreamScreen will sport your typical selection of features, including 2GB of internal storage, wired and wireless connectivity, a remote control, and support for memory cards like CF, SD, and Memory Stick. Where things get interesting is online integration; the frame will be able to pull pictures directly from Facebook and Snapfish while streaming tunes from Pandora, meaning re-living vacation pics while discovering new artists just became a curious possibility. No word on whether you can give friends' poorly composed holiday snaps and that new Moby album a thumbs down at the same time, but we can hope.Update: Is that the 10.2-inch DreamScreen 100 in the FCC as well? Why yes, it is.
Samsung's WVGA AMOLED: 800x480 pixels and swine-flu immune
There it is, the display that wil undoubtedly find its way into your future high-end smartphone. You're looking at Samsung's newest AMOLED display now pushing 300 pixels per inch scattered across a 800 x 480 (WVGA) panel with improved brightness. That's a damn fine display when you consider how brilliant typical 400 x 240 OLED displays are including that of the 480 x 272 pixel stunner found on the Zune HD. Sorry, no word on when these will go mass production but it's gotta be soon, right? Right!
Sharp's EM ONE: a dual-sliding Pocket PC with HSDPA and WiFi
Check it W-Zero3, Sharp just one-upped your azz with their new EM ONE handheld. This Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC device brings 3.6Mbps HSDPA and 802.11b/g data to the game along with hot dual-sliding action under that 4.1-inch touch-screen display. Unlike Samsung's F520 dual-slider which combines a QWERTY and numeric keypad for making calls, Sharp's slab is a data-only device so they combine the QWERTY with a side-sliding navigation pad for scooting around the 800 x 480 pixel display. However, Sharp's EM ONE comes heavy on the chub at 140x70x18.9-mm compared to the F520's 105x54x17.4-mm or even Nokia's N800 which is about the same length and width but much thinner at 145x75x12.7-mm. The whole kit comes powered by a Marvell 520MHz PXA270 processor and nVidia GoForce 5500 graphics along with 512MB/128MB flash/SDRAM memory and miniSD expansion. The display boasts a rather anemic 65k color palette (albeit, the same as the N800) for viewing integrated 1-Seg mobile TV and WMV videos with WMA and MP3 audio playback supported by a pair of built-in stereo speakers. Rounding out the specs are Bluetooth 1.2, a 1.3 megapixel CMOS camera, stylus, and a 4-hour battery. On sale in Japan starting March 31st for ¥95,000 (about $797) without contract or ¥39,800 ($332) with 2-year commitment.%Gallery-1694%[Via Impress]
Hitachi does 800 x 480 display for phones
Heck, plain ol' QVGA displays on phones are still a fairly scarce commodity in some parts of the world, but Hitachi knows you want... nay, need more. VGA, perhaps? Nope, keep going; think wider. Hitachi has officially started pumping out copies of its 2.9-inch, 800 x 480 cellphone display, promising web browsing experiences that could finally catch up with the 3G data speeds modern handsets are offering. The company points out that such crazy-fresh resolution typically leads to crazy-fresh battery drainage thanks to increased backlight brightness requirements, but engineers have apparently put in some late nights miniaturizing the circuitry and designing a new pixel structure to minimize power draw. Better yet, the panel promises a 170 degree viewing angle and a 400:1 contrast ratio. Only thing left, it seems, is for some scrappy manufacturer and/or carrier to step forward and announce a killer device wrapped around this sucker. Why do we get the strange feeling we should keep our eyes on NTT DoCoMo for that?
