Motorola Atrix 4G Review

Motorola Atrix 4G Review

The Atrix 4G is not just a simple phone. The dual-core handheld works as a laptop, desktop computer, set top box, and somewhere between all these, it works as a smartphone too. The Motorola device, with its 4-inch screen, HSPA+ connectivity and other killer features, is multi-purpose device meant to substitute your netbook or more, through its Webtop environment.

Hardware and Performance

The Motorola Atrix 4G’s hardware is admirable for a number of reasons, one of which is design. The chassis is mainly plastic but it’s packed firmly that it feels much more solid. Its dimensions are 4.63 x 2.5 x 0.43, thickness that is similar to that of the iPhone 4, and weighs 135g (4.8oz).the front is almost completely display, except for the Android buttons at the bottom. At the top rear is the power/sleep button, which is also a fingerprint scanner, and the headphones jack is next to it. On the right edge is the volume rocker and on the left edge are HDMI and microUSB ports. The fingerprint option is quite unique but if you don’t need high level security, a simple passcode will be enough.

The Motorola Atrix 4G is one of the best looking smartphones on the market and the looks are paired with some respectable power – 1GHz dual-core CPU, 1GB DDR2 RAM, 16GB internal memory plus a microSD card slot for extra 32GB. The device is also equipped with 960 x 540 capacitive touchscreen  that  Motorola calls qHD display. In the connectivity section, Atrix 4G offers Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, Wi-Fi b/g/n, and HSPA+. The phone has also a built in light sensor, compass and accelerometer.

The Atrix 4G is one of the fastest phones, competitive even to the iPhone 4. It can’t be thrown out of balance even by complex tasks like 3D gaming.

The cameras completely match the quality if the rest of the phone. The still images are clear and with realistic colors, and the 5MP camera also allows for 720p HD videos to be captured. The quality of the sound meets the quality requirements that we set when it comes to Motorola phones. Both the earpiece and the speaker on the back deliver a loud and clear sound.

The battery is packed with remarkable 1930mAh and even though Android tends to drain the battery very quickly, you can get more than 24h of constant heavy usage with just one charge.

Software

For the Atrix 4G, Motorola decided to go with modified Android 2.2 Froyo instead of Gingerbread. It might sound like Atrix 4G is going retro on us, but it works very well actually, and no one says you can’t update to Gingerbread latter on. There are a number of proprietary apps of Motorola and AT&T that consume too many resources for other, more useful apps could be used. Some of these apps can be uninstalled, however.

Accessories

Now, here’s where things get interesting. Motorola Atrix 4G comes with a software called Webtop that allows you to plug the Atrix into a laptop or desktop dock and set up an environment in which you see the phone’s window along with the Webtop software on the big screen.  Even further, you can have a Motorola laptop dock that looks like it just came out of a geek’s wet dream. It’s an 11.5-inch vessel for the Atrix 4G with 1366 x 768 resolution, full keyboard and trackpad with two buttons. Of course, the laptop doesn’t work without the phone. Motorola also provides a desktop dock, keyboard and mouse.

Even though Atrix has 4G as a core of its name, it fails to live up to the expectations. Both the download and the upload speeds are not 4G-like and the average download speed is 1.5Mbps. Perhaps the problem is in the network and not the phone, but still it’s frustrating.

The Verdict

The Atrix 4G will cost you $199.99, accessories not included. But with all the fire power and looks this phone has to offer, the only thing you should ask yourself is which of the accessories should you by.

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The Linksys WPC54G Hardware Review

The Linksys WPC54G Hardware Review

Wireless internet connectivity is now a standard which modern devices and gadgets must meet. That is why most portable computers and tablets have built in wireless network adapters. One such adapter used in laptop computers is the Linksys WPC54G Wireless-G notebook adapter. This wireless network adapter is made specifically for laptop computers because of its thin compact design and structure, which makes it ideal for upgrading any kind of laptop.

 

Purchasing one is an ideal solution to problems like malfunctions in your current wireless laptop adapter and overheating. Having one of these installed into older laptops is a good solution for its lack of wireless network connectivity, it provides additional function and gives your laptop new value. The WPC54G Wireless-G notebook adapter is compatible with every version of Windows, which might be a turn-off for some consumers but it functions rather well despite its lack of platform flexibility. It comes with a quick and easy installation manual that holds your hand through a very short installation process, so you never feel like you are wasting your time waiting.

 

The Linksys WPC54G is one of the company’s rather common varieties of laptop adapters, which is equipped for both 802.11g and 802.11b. You can get better speeds from more expensive kinds of network cards but the WPC54G will do just right in home networks and rather speedy public Wi-fi hot spots. Security measures with this network adapter are pretty reliable since it enables older WEP security configurations and the newer WPA encryptions, equipping you with the trendiest security measure for WiFi connectivity.

 

It isn’t the greatest possible network adapter one can get his hands on, but it does do well considering that it is well-equipped for basic browsing and light networking. It is a pretty cheap solution when you plan to replace your older laptop network card and can only shell out so much for an upgrade. The WPC54G is a great solution for people on a tight budget looking to get more out of the functionality of their laptops.

 

The WPC54G is a breeze to install, light on the pocket and does its job rather well. So before you set out to your nearest tech shop to buy a wireless network adapter for your laptop, ensure that you will not regret buying just a common laptop wireless network card such as the Linksys WPC54G, unless you really don’t think you will be needing a better card for the connections you will be using.

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Comcast Internet Saves Money by Bundling Entertainment Services

As one of the US’ biggest cable service providers, Comcast was always well placed to diversify and start bundling internet, phone and TV packages together. Initially, the company was providing a well reputed cable network service to 39 of America’s states, enjoying the patronage of more than 24 million subscribers. Now Comcast internet plans have widened the company remit to service a full spectrum of home business, entertainment and connectivity needs.

Comcast digital TV, for example, delivers more than 250 channels in a definition whose clarity is only explained by the fibre optic technology that forms a part of the company’s cabling system. With superb speed on internet delivery, digital TV becomes fast, clear and free from irritating freezes or glitches.

The functionality of the TV system that you get as part of your Comcast internet plans bundle is pretty sweet too. As well as a stock of more than 10,000 movies, which you can find using themed channels like the Impact action movies station, Comcast is delivering a digital video recorder that lets you store either 80 hours of normal programmes, or 15 hours of HDTV.

The high speed internet package included in a bundled Comcast deal lets you enjoy the benefits of that fibre optic cabling, as well as the security benefits that come from having a McAfee Internet Security Suite as part of your deal. There’s enough oomph in a Comcast internet bundle to power all the wireless devices in your home, with no loss of speed or connectivity to any of them.

Comcast internet plans deliver a connection speed that can run as much as four times quicker than a standard DSL linkup. Use FanCast, Comcast’s own online TV streaming hub site, to organise all entertainment you stream online into a single easy to use control centre. Doesn’t matter where you get your entertainment from, FanCast makes sure that you make the most of it without having to visit hundreds of different sites to get what you want.

The name of Comcast’s full package is the Comcast Triple Play. You’ll get TV, phone and internet for one low monthly payment, with all the online benefits that Comcast delivers across all its packages. The telephone system alone is worth the price of the triple package: you get a state of the art digital exchange all of your very own, inclusive of voicemail with web access and web forwarding; call waiting; caller ID; and triple way calling too. The caller ID function included in Comcast internet plans shows the number and ID of your caller on your TV screen.

If you’re interested in getting all of your communications synched, so you can control everything easily from one location and only have to pay for everything with one bill. Then Comcast could well be the provider you have been looking for. The company is superbly placed to deliver high speeds and maximum security – and with the competitive price of its Triple Play package, you are equally well placed to enjoy it all.

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Motion Computing CL900 Review

Motion Computing CL900 Review

Tablets are the new computers today. Tablets are flat machines that can be slid into big pockets. These things have revolutionized the technological world. Say goodbye to that iPhone and say hello to the new deal. It shouldn’t be surprising that in relatively little time the tablet market has been flooded with companies competing for your purchasing power. The big names are all well and good, but there are many options out there. Motion Computing, for example, has brought us the first tablet targeted for the business market.

 

Running at $1,125 retail value, the CL900 tablet is a bit higher-end than many others. In some ways, it deserves to entail such a cost, but in other respects it lacks the credentials to justify its price tag. That is to say that like any product, it has its pros and its cons.

 

The look of the tablet is sleek, black and tough. The black aluminum gives the CL900 good durability, and the rubber trim takes in a lot of the impact of collisions or drops. The 10 inch tablet can handle dust, liquid splashing and vibrations pretty well. It has a melded Corning Gorilla Glass to protect the screen from scratch marks. The extra-thin shape means that the tablet can slide anywhere.

 

The CL900 screen resolution is 1,366 by 68, allowing high definition-quality videos to run cleanly. Otherwise, one feature that is new and improved is the HDMI input, which allows you to connect the tablet to an external HD television screen for business presentations or whatnot. Other inputs include a USB 2.0 port and a SD card reader.

 

The CL900 has updated software that has dealt with the touch screen problems that many other tablets running on Windows 7 experience. Although the tablet has decent responsiveness, it can hardly compete with other tablets that run on tablet-only operating systems.

 

The tablet’s ability to recognize 4 fingertips simultaneously is a step up from other tablets that only recognize 2, but if number of touch points is a concern, there are other tablets that offer up to 11 fingertip recognition screens.

 

The tablet does not have mobile broadband hardware embedded, but it does have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 3.0. The tablet also comes with 3-megapixel front and back cameras. It is a nice feature to have, but you won’t be replacing your SLR, for example.

 

The main problem with the CL900 is that its advanced functionality is efficient only in juncture with the accessories you need to buy separately. For instance, the stylus feature increases the precision of the touch screen and the right click button allows more convenient handwriting recognition; however, it must be bought separately.

 

Motion Computing’s CL900 tablet is a good product with the accessories, but depending on your purposes, it might not be worth the price tag.

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The HP TouchPad Review

The HP TouchPad Review

Hewlett – Packard has just recently unveiled the new HP TouchPad. The HP TouchPad will be the third webOS device to be launched since HP takeover of Palm. The Pre 2 was a leftover from the deal before the takeover went though and the Veer should have never been released. With the failure of the Palm Company, Can HP bring this business back from the dead with the HP Touch Pad?

The HP TouchPad will be equipped with the 3.0 version of the OS and the upgrade didn’t go unnoticed. The build of the 3.0 version is similar to the older 2.2 version on the HP smartphones. The new synergy service has been added to the latest 3.0 version including apps such as MobileMe and the synergy services seem to run a lot smoother also. Another great addition is Skype integration. Out of the box, users can open up the messaging app, enter a user name and password for Skype and begin typing, talking or video chatting within seconds. The HP TouchPad is powered by a dual – core GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, which is a pack with a good deal of power even though it does get tripped up at times. The TouchPad also features the Wi – Fi 802.11b/g/n radio, GPS, a 1.3 megapixel front facing camera for video chats and a 6,300 mAh battery that should last for several days with moderate usage before having to be recharged.

The tablet feels very solid and weighs in at 26.1 ounces which is on the heavier side when going against other tablet. The 9.7 display screen is sporting a 1,024 x 768 pixel resolution and it is very nice. The picture quality is not that great though. The keyboard on the HP TouchPad is actually very great. The most loved part of the keyboard is that it includes the numbers in the main view. On the iPad, the PlayBook, and in Honeycomb users must jump away from the main keypad to separate view in order to type numbers or special characters.

The HP TouchPad has come a long way prior to the bust of the Palm Veer. HP is turning this company back the right way. People are more excited about the devices potential than the product at hand. HP is upgrading more and more everyday helping it come back to the market. So to answer the question many people are asking about would be yes. The upgrades are getting better and it will not be long before HP will be up there will Apple.

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Kindle Keyboard 3G Review– A Mini-Library to Move Around With

kindle keyboard 3g

The Kindle Keyboard 3G, a new member of Amazon’s Kindle family, is the latest wireless reader released by Amazon.com. You have to give it a lot of hit points for being thinner, lighter and faster than the previous family members. It’s quite trim and quarter-inch thin.
You can have 3500 books and documents with Kindle Keyboard 3G, which is more than twice of the number it could hold before. It has almost two months battery life with Wi-Fi and 3G turned off; you can read from it without recharging it for over 10 days. This device doesn’t have an off-screen as its wallpaper is always on.

Kindle Keyboard 3G weighs only 8.7 ounces, holding a cool looking sleek design. It means you can now read easily with one hand instead using two hands while reading a book.
It’s called 3G because it comes with 3G wireless connectivity. This means you can buy the latest books and magazines. It gives you a very comfy way to read your favorite blogs without having to sit in front of your laptop or desktop. And since, it’s now very light and smaller than previous versions, it doesn’t look like a mini-computer.

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Logitech Speaker Lapdesk N550 Review

Logitech Speaker Lapdesk N550 Review

If you own a laptop, especially one with 14” or smaller display, you may have even felt that there are indeed rooms for improvements when it comes to the audio. As a matter of fact, this is what most laptop users think and it is very sensible. Most laptops don’t usually come with speakers that can offer high quality or true surround sound. Fortunately, though, there is now the Lapdesk N500 speaker from Logitech. With this particular speaker, which also works as a heat shield for laptop, not only can users enjoy music the way they should but they can prevent their laptop from being overheated as well.

The first good thing about the speaker is that it does not require any batteries or external power sources at all. This is because the device uses a single cable to power it up as both a lapdesk and a speaker. The added advantage is that it won’t cause the users to run short of USB ports as it consumes just a single port.

When you place your 14” laptop, or netbook, the speaker lapdesk will hold it firmly. You, likewise, will also be able to hold the lapdesk firmly thanks to the soft cloth pillow attached to the bottom of the device. As with what most users experience, the speaker lapdesk N550 hardly slides, if at all, while placed on their lap.

Of course, one very important aspect when it comes to speakers is the volume. Therefore, the Sweden manufacturer has made sure that users of its N550 have total control of the device’s volume.

Now, what about the sound quality of the N550? Well, quite amazingly, the integrated speakers are capable of providing full stereo quality sound to either the left or the right ear of the users.

Then, to make sure that users feel comfortable while using the speaker lapdesk N550, Logitech has equipped the device with an angled riser measuring 10 degrees in total. This design won’t likely strain the users’ legs or neck. There is even a soft air-mesh fabric as well that is meant to give users a comfortable feeling while holding the device on their lap.

Last but not least, another advantage that users of the speaker lapdesk N550 can expect is the low power that the device consumes. Built with efficiency in mind, the N550 speaker lapdesk has the power to minimize the use of a laptop battery.

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LG Thrill 4G Review

LG Thrill 4G Review

The second Android smartphone in the United States that is capable of recording and displaying 3D video and photos without the need of a special glasses would be the LG Thrill 4G. The question people are curious to know would be; is the 3D effects fun and useful or just lame?

The LG Thrill is equipped with a 4.3 display screen, 800 x 480 pixel screen that is able to display both 2D and 3D graphics. This phone weighs in at 5.9 ounces and it a little heavier than the rest of the other smartphones. The LG Thrill seems to be a pretty solid phone. The LG Thrill 4G runs on Android 2.2 out of the box but is promising to be updated to Android 2.3. With the phone’s dual core processor being 1GHz there seem to be no lag in this phone data processing.  The 3D term seem to put a bad taste in everyone’s mouth because of the bad effect the Nintendo 3DS. Nintendo 3DS has the 3D effect but isn’t worth it. The Thrill 4G has got a superior screen compared to the 3DS and the 3D is optional to use but is enjoyed by many to use the 3D effect. The LG includes a full 3D menu that allows you to quickly browse 3D YouTube videos, 3D photos and videos in the gallery and fast access to all 3D games.

 

The camera of the Thrill 4G is capable of shooting both 2D and 3D modes. The 3D mode the pictures and videos came out very nice. The only bad part is if you don’t have the right amount of light the pictures may actually overlap of two images and look quite blurry in the 3D mode. So if you plan on using the camera in 3D mode be sure not to be in dark places for the pictures will not come out. The call quality and data usage are quite good. Putting the data speed to the test it operates at 1.6 MBPS in the uploading test.

 

The battery life of the LG Thrill 4G was average. It will last all day if used moderately. It will not last as long with heavy usage of the smartphone.

 

So the answer to the question on everyone mind is pretty clear, that the 3D effect is quite fun and is not just a lame gimmick. The 3D actually works good compared to the DS3.

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Mobile Phones for Christmas – Contract or SIM Only?

Mobile Phones for Christmas

It can be a challenge to find the best cell phone service plan to meet your needs when there are so many service providers competing for your business and such a confusing array of service options available. You not only have to decide on a service provider, but what kind of phone you want, what features you need, what type of plan will fit your calling pattern and what kind of contractual commitment you’re willing to make, if any.

Mobile Phones for ChristmasBefore you sign on the dotted line, take the time to do some research and shop around to ensure you are really getting value for your money and that the plan you choose is going to meet all your needs. Too often consumers are swayed by a service provider’s glossy ad and fail to read the fine print, only to discover that they are locked into a long-term contract with monthly bills that are far in excess of what they expected or plagued with ongoing problems like dropped calls or busy networks.

Standard cellar phone contracts are generally for a period of one to three years and include a free cell phone and accessories. You actually pay for the “free” phone, as its cost is rolled into the overall price of the contract.  And during the contract period, you are not allowed to cancel or downgrade your service. Over the past decade SIM only deals have become a popular alternative to long-term mobile phone contracts. The SIM (Subscriber Identification Module) is the smart card that functions as the digital brain of a mobile phone handset. It holds all of the data that the phone needs to function including: the phone number, the personal security key that authorizes you to use a particular network, your rate plan, service features and personal information. SIM only deals do not include a phone and as a result are far less expensive.

The SIM card is portable and can be transferred from one phone to another, enabling you to receive calls to your cell phone number on different handsets. Upgrading to a new phone or using a borrowed phone, is as simple as slipping your SIM card into that phone. However, if you currently have a phone that came with a standard cell-phone contract, the phone will be locked and only able to recognize the SIM card from the carrier who sold you the contract. In most cases, these phones can be unlocked for a small fee, allowing them to accept SIM cards from any carrier.

SIM only deals offer you some distinct advantages over standard cellular service contracts. They include more minutes, unlimited texting, access to mobile internet and other perks for a far lower cost than any standard service contract can offer. And they are very flexible. Most service providers offer rolling thirty day contracts, giving you all the advantages of a monthly payment plan with the flexibility of a pay-as-you-go service. You are not locked into a long term deal and can switch providers or plans whenever you want. SIM only contracts are also an ideal choice for anyone who has a limited credit history or a poor credit rating. And for anyone concerned about reducing their environmental footprint, buying a SIM card allows you to recycle your phone.

My name is Nisha, I represent a site called Wish.co.uk. I love to write, especially about games and technology, I love contributing my knowledge and experience readers. Please visit our site to find some great Christmas gifts!

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Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard K400 Review

Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard K400

One of the world’s most famous Sweden manufacturers for computer related devices, Logitech, has now introduced a very attractive wireless keyboard. The company dubs the new device K400, a wireless keyboard equipped with a multi-touch pad. Judging at the long rich history of keyboards, this new keyboard from Logitech is a certain cutting-edge keyboard with technologies never seen before on similar devices. Read on for more details on this particularly revolutionary keyboard.

So, to start it off, one of the innovations that Logitech is trying to offer with this keyboard is – as mentioned earlier – the built-in touchpad that supports multi-touch navigation. Thanks to such a touchpad, browsing the internet as well as the local drives themselves feels pretty amazing. It gives users of the keyboard an unrivaled experience. Users can even get rid of their physical mouse while using their PC for everyday computing.

Besides the touchpad, the keyboard still has a lot of attractive features. Its advanced 2.4GHz wireless connection, for example, makes it possible for the users to access their laptop or desktop PC even from a distant away. Just for information, a distance of 33 feet is not a problem at all for the device.

With that being said, users won’t have to worry about messy cables around their living room. All that it takes to make the K400 wireless touch keyboard work is simply a Logitech receiver. It’s a great thing that the receiver is universal so that users can use the very same receiver for other Logitech wireless devices as well. There won’t likely be any hassles, either, while the users are trying to connect the K400 keyboard to their PC since it is a simple plug-and-play device.

For the sake of users’ convenience, Logitech has put great efforts into building the keyboard with comfort in mind. In addition to that, the keys are not quite likely to make any noticeable sounds, leaving the users in peace while using it even at midnight.

Yet, to ensure users’ security is not compromised, the Swiss-based manufacturer has made sure more than once that the K400 encrypts all data it transfers to the unifying receiver. For this purpose, the 128-bit AES encryption method, which is known to be pretty safe, is utilized.

Also, just in case the K400 wireless touch keyboard is used in a room where there are insufficient lightings, the company has made sure that the keys are easy to read. That way, users will still be able to use the device. To give users an even better experience, the keyboard has been well equipped with multimedia hot keys. That said, playing media files on PC won’t require the users to stand up and grab their mouse to access the multimedia menus.

According to what the manufacturer claims, it is possible to use the K400 keyboard up to 1 full year. However, when users are not in need of using it, they can turn it off completely by using the switch provided. And, in case there are not enough spaces around, the K400 keyboard can be stored vertically so that it won’t take up too many spaces.

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