Gadget and Techno Updates
Posts tagged handson
Hands-on with the Google Nexus S 4G
Mar 25th
At CTIA we had the opportunity to try the Nexus S 4G and Google Voice integration to see how they stacked up as the respective flagships of the Android and Sprint platforms. While simple, both of them promise to change how people use the web and make calls. Read on for our quick take.
The Nexus S 4G is largely what you would expect it to be: it’s a Nexus S with WiMAX for Sprint’s network. That said, for some the addition may be enough if they’re not already devoted to T-Mobile. We noticed a decent improvement in web download More >
T-Mobile Sidekick 4G hands-on
Mar 23rd
When T-Mobile unveiled the Sidekick 4G, fears immediately surfaced that the switch to Android killed what the now defunct Danger had done to make the Sidekick special, such as jump keys. Those concerns are certainly valid, but the carrier is counting on a custom interface and surprisingly high-end specs to make up the difference. Read on for an early take on whether they’ve reached that goal.
The physical design is somewhat reminiscent of a definitive model of the messaging slider, like the Sidekick LX, but has conspicuous changes. Apart from the Android controls, there’s now a jump button that, like More >
HTC’s dual-core Evo 3D unveiled, we go hands-on
Mar 22nd
Sprint at its CTIA event brought out its new headlining phone for 2011, the HTC Evo 3D. The phone is the fastest HTC has ever made, with a dual-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon, and uses the extra power to be even faster and more efficient than the T-Mobile G2X or other rival devices. Qualcomm’s chip is asynchronous and downclocks one of the cores if it isn’t being heavily used, keeping the dual cores alive but improving the battery life, allowing one core to work at full speed but saving battery life.
The 3D is a close match for that of the Optimus More >
iPad 2, Smart Cover unboxing and early hands-on
Mar 12th
We left the Apple store this afternoon with an iPad 2 and have given it an early shakedown along with its frequently joined-at-the-hip companion, the Smart Cover. The iPad itself instantly feels much smaller and lighter; although the dimensions haven’t changed much, in practice it’s much easier to hold in any orientation. The dual-core processor and extra RAM are noticeable, too, and even casual tasks like Google Maps are faster; the JavaScript improvements in iOS 4.3 are only part of the story.
As expected, the cameras aren’t great for still shots, especially in low light indoors or at night. Some More >
Swedes get hands-on with EFI on Intel Sandy Bridge PCs
Nov 5th
Following the introduction of several new motherboards designed for Intel’s upcoming Sandy Bridge processors, ASUS has also demonstrated its new UEFI system and a graphical management interface. Images posted on the Swedish site SweClockers show the new UI, which has been modernized well beyond the simple keyboard-input system of BIOS firmware.
At its core, the technology is based on the Universal Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI), which is an evolution of the EFI used by many systems such as Mac OS X. UEFI boots processes in parallel order, rather than sequentially, helping to reduce startup time for the operating system.
The graphical interface, More >