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A Review On Samsung Galaxy Nexus

by Jane | Tech Buzz Online on May 9, 2012 · 3 comments

Samsung Galaxy Nexus is a powerful android based Smartphone. It is also called as Samsung Google Galaxy Nexus I9250, Samsung Google Nexus 3 and Samsung Galaxy X. The phone is housed in a plastic body. You can unleash the power of the phone through the virtual keys. Let us find more about this really smart ‘Smartphone’.

Specifications

The plastic cased Smartphone weighs 135 grams. It comes in 135.5 x 67.9 x 8.9 mm size. The phone is little bit bigger than Samsung Galaxy S2. The phone is loaded with the latest Android Operating System,Ice Cream Sandwich.

The screen is really appealing that steals the show. It is an aesthetically designed body that also offers a firm grip on your hands. Except for power on/off and to change volume settings, all remaining phone functionality are handled through virtual buttons only.

samsung_galaxy_nexus

The front of the phone consists of the screen, the camera, the brightness sensor and a sleeping light beneath the screen. The navigation is achieved through three soft keys which are powered by the operating system. These keys let you perform back, home and multitasking functions.

Samsung Galaxy Nexus comes with dual-core 1.2 GHz processor. You can expect quick access of various applications and overall faster performance from this smartphone. The phone comes with 16GB internal storage and 1 GB RAM. Unfortunately, no external storage is made available.

The 4.65” screen offers high quality picture quality at 720p x 1280p capacity at a density of 316 pixels per inch. In terms of pixel density it fares little less than iPhone 4S. It has a special coating on the screen to protect from scratches. You can set alerts in vibration, MP3 and WAV formats.

It has a big loudspeaker and a 3.5mm jack to connect the audio output to other gadgets. Color reproduction is so good and it is closer to reality. You will have absolutely high quality gaming experience. The big sized screen will let you browse in an effortless manner. Further, you can also enjoy the high quality ‘High Definition’ video.

You can enjoy all the latest powerful features of the Android operating system. You will be able to create custom folders. All the recently used applications will be floating at the bottom of the screen.

Even though the application drawer is similar to earlier versions, it is easy to select the application of your choice through the new animated form. You are not required to scroll through the applications in sequence.

There are two tabs, Apps and Widgets within the application drawer. The widget is really useful where you will you be able to glance through all the available widgets and install the one that best meets your choice.

One of the major overhauls of the new Android 4.0 OS is the change in User Interface with reference to contacts. The renewed look will definitely attract many users. The white and blue light weight ‘People App’ is so elegant where a name appears in alphabetical order and photos will appear on the right hand side of the screen.

It is easy to search for a contact and add a new contact with just a single tap. Contacts are synchronized with Google cloud service. You can easily reach the Contacts App by tapping on the contact button which is present at the bottom of the home screen. Similar level of comfort is not extended to connect with social networking sites.

Samsung-Galaxy-Nex

Samsung Galaxy Nexus lets you access Google Talk quite easily but there is no room for Facebook integration. HTC fares well in this aspect by offering Sense handsets.

The keyboard appears quickly on the screen. You can utilize plenty of Google applications including Google Chrome. Text-to-Speech function, data management and NFC compatibility will keep Samsung Galaxy Nexus in the most sought after Smartphones in the world. Samsung Galaxy Nexus comes with accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass and barometer sensors. You can communicate through SMS, MMS, Email and Instant Messenger.

The phone is equipped with a 5MP rear camera and 1.3 front facing cameras. Even though the size of the camera is less than iPhone 4S which comes with 8MP, the performance of the camera is good. The camera software will let you capture a snap almost instantaneously.

The camera is supported by a LED flash and you can capture videos of 1080p quality at 30 fps. The camera lets you capture panoramic views very easily. The camera features geo-tagging, touch focus and face detection.

The Smartphone offers extensive data connectivity capability. You can connect to 2G Network (GSM 850, 900, 1800, 1900) and 3G Network (HSDPA 850/900/1700/1900/2100). You can access the services in various ways including GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA, WLAN, Bluetooth, NFC and USB. Samsung Galaxy Nexus is fitted with standard Li-Ion battery of 1750 mAh. It runs on standby mode for 290 hours in 2G mode and up to 270 hours in 3G mode. You can expect up to 17 hours 40 minutes talk time on 2G and up to 8 hours 20 minutes in 3G mode.

Good features

One of the fastest performing phone available in the market
Quick access keyboard
5MP camera, 1080p HD video capability, smooth performance
Fast data connectivity capabilities
Facial unlock
Excellent contacts integration
Better Gmail application
User friendly keyboard
NFC capability
Highly intuitive Android 4.0 Operating System

Shortcomings

Camera difficulty with auto-focus to gear up for the successive shots
Social network connectivity to be improved
Voice dictation not as competent as Siri
Lack of SD Card slot
HTML emails require a fix
Home screens are limited to five. No options to extend beyond this.

Conclusion

Samsung Galaxy Nexus is the Google’s third flagship phone that comes with the completely redesigned Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) Operating System. The Smartphone offers big and bright screen. The ability to access applications at lightening speeds and the ability to access data through various ways, make Samsung Galaxy Nexus a good option to improve productivity in personal as well as professional life. The phone has decent battery backup.

Samsung I9250 Galaxy Nexus 16GB (Unlocked)
Average Rating:

113 total customer reviews...

Samsung Galaxy Nexus 4G Android Phone (Verizon Wireless)
Average Rating:

174 total customer reviews...

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) Reviewed

by Jane | Tech Buzz Online on May 7, 2012 · 3 comments

The smartphone and tablet markets are always changing with the top names in the industry bringing out new and innovative developments for their latest models on what seems like a weekly basis, forcing their competitors to raise their game.

A bit like a football club being bought by a billionaire owner and finding themselves top of the table, it is a market where you don’t necessarily have to have a proven background to produce a global success.

Fortunately for Samsung, they have that reputation in abundance. Built up over decades now, the tech giants have been producing televisions and other electrical products that have become essentials in our everyday lives, and they’re causing a storm in the tablet market.

Producing products that rival the likes of Apple and Blackberry isn’t easy, but the Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) is the latest off the production line and sales have shown that they’re producing the right stuff.

Samsung-Galaxy-Tab-2

While it isn’t going to blow the Amazon Kindle Fire out of the water, it certainly provides customers with a perfectly adequate alternative, meaning that they don’t get the perks and don’t have to pay the hefty price associated with the Kindle Fire. Instead, it has a consumer-friendly price tag and does little more than what it says on the tin.

So what does it look like? Well, it’s had a bit of makeover since it debuted on the market as the Galaxy Tab, and now features a steel finish as opposed to a matt black look, making it much more stylish than before.

While other tabs have gone for the slim and sexy look, the Galaxy Tab 2.0 is actually slightly thicker than its predecessor, but that doesn’t mean it’s heavier – in fact, it weighs exactly the same, give or take a few grams.

While it may not jump off the shelves at customers with it’s new design, you can be assured that it is well constructed and built to last, so you will get away with dropping it a couple of times. (Not that you should test it though!)

Just like the first version, the Galaxy Tab 2 has a 7-inch display with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels, translating to 170ppi which, while being nothing outstanding, is perfectly good for what is a relatively cheap tablet.

Brightness is good meaning no more squinting to make out small words, but direct sunlight does create viewing issues – something the majority of tablets and smartphones suffer from – so this won’t put customers off.

The battery life is good. For someone who uses their tablet on a regular basis, you will get around 1 ½ days of use before it dies on you, or around 4 days of light use, so you don’t get the problems associated with the likes of Apple whereby you use it on a two-hour train journey and you’re about out of juice.

For what is a budget tablet, the Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) is very good. As mentioned previously, it won’t beat the Kindle Fire, but it will certainly prove to be a worthy competitor and with the $250 price tag, it might encourage more customers to leave the Kindle on the shelf.

This article was written by Chris White, an experienced technology blogger currently working with uShip, the experts in delivering the latest tech by courier, as well as providing assistance with house removal.

AmazonBasics Leather Folio Cover with Multi-Angle Adjustable Stand for Kindle Fire, Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 (Black)
Average Rating:
168 total customer reviews...

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7-Inch, Wi-Fi)
Average Rating:
146 total customer reviews...

Sony Xperia S: A Review On Sony Xperia S

by Jane | Tech Buzz Online on May 4, 2012 · 2 comments

Sony Xperia S is the first Smartphone released by Sony. It is also the first in the range of Xperia NXT series. Sony has ambitious plans to establish its presence in the Smartphone market much dominated by players like HTC, Samsung and Apple.

Let us check how far Sony Xperia S will be able to fulfill the aspirations of Smartphone users and where it stands with other popular brands in terms of presentation of features and technology.

Sony Xperia S is in no way different from the Sony brand of mobiles in terms of shape and appearance. It gives the square box appearance.

The edges might have been trimmed. Transparent element is the highlight of the design. Transparent element gives better visual appearance and also gives accommodation to the antenna.

Back, Home and Menu buttons are placed one notch above the transparent element. It is likely that user may tap the transparent element to gain more access to the features present in the Smartphone.

sony-xperia-s-front-view

Sony Xperia S: Specifications

The Smartphone comes with 1.3MP frontal camera and a 12MP camera on the backside. Even though this is a big leap made by Sony, the quality is comparable to that of HTC One X and iPhone 4S. You can capture good quality videos through Sony Xperia S.

You will get a better grip in your hands as the backside of the phone comes with convex shape. The plastic cover present of the frame gives furthermore comfort to the Smartphone user.

The plastic casing is very thin and it can be compared to that of Samsung S II. Even though Sony claims that the surface is coated with special materials it is no way better than Samsung S II to protect from scratches.

Coming to the dimensions, Sony Xperia S’ length, breadth and thickness are 128, 64 and 10.6 mm respectively. The phone weights 144 grams.

The Smartphone is fitted with a micro USB port on the left hand side. This port can be used for charging as well as data transmission. Further, it is protected with plastic cap to prevent of entry of dust and insects into the slot.

On the phone’s right hand side comes, mini HDMI port, volume adjustments and the camera shutter button. The camera shutter hardware key is a unique feature which is not available in the even Smartphones from other brands.

Other Android based Smartphones are going to implement this feature in the coming models.

Audio jack is fitted on the top end of the phone. The power button is also placed on the top. The speakers are placed at the bottom of the phone.

Sony Xperia S is powered by 1.5 GHz dual core Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 processor. It comes with 1 GB RAM and 32 GB storage capacity. The phone is fitted with 4.3” TFT LCD display at a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels.

BRAVIA engine technology lets you have a better view of pictures and videos on the screen. You have the chances to watch pictures at 343 pixels per inch which is even higher than iPhone 4S.

The Smartphone doesn’t facilitate automatic adjustment of brightness. It has to be adjusted manually. Some users have reported yellow display issues.

Even though Sony boasts of very high image quality there are Smartphones in the market which offer better image features than Sony Xperia S.

sony-xperia-s-back-view

Sony Xperia S failed to accommodate the latest available Android OS in its maiden Smarphone introduced to the world. The Smartphone comes with Gingerbread version.

Users will be able to get most of the Sony’ visual features such as themes and widgets through Timescape User Interface. Integration of social feeds is not new with other Smartphone manufacturers as well.

The music player offer a new user interface which is customized by Sony. The sound system is backed by xLOUD audio technology which produces a sound bass.

While you may enjoy the music at low volume, it is difficult to get the same performance as the volume is raised. Sony Xperia S offers 50GB online storage in association with Box which HTC gives its users 25 GB online storage in association with Dropbox.

You are offered with a number of icons which are nothing but links that take you to a variety of paid services.

You can utilize the Tracker ID application which helps you find the title and artist behind the track. Sony Xperia let you perform all the documentation through Office suite. It also works like a file manager.

One of the interesting aspects with Sony Xperia S is the facilitation of NFC (Near Field Communications) chip with it. NFC technology will let users to purchase items from POS (Point Of Sale) terminals.

The chip implements advanced encryption technologies. The chip will be able to read from location based promotional tags as well. Newsreader can help you scan barcodes and QR codes.

You will be able to manage the battery power by being able to customize the features on your Smartphone.

The keys are small on the keyboard and auto correction is not as fast as Samsung Galaxy S II. Of course, you have the option to download a third party keyboard to get better performance.

If you would like to update the software, you are required to connect Sony Xperia S to your Personal Computer or Mac. The phone is not loaded with Play Station software. You can get decent gaming performance with the processor loaded on Sony Xperia S.

Sony Xperia S offers best of the features on Gingerbread OS and the user interface is good enough to perform various day to day activities.

If the phone is loaded with the latest version, it might have offered more relevant and promising features to compete with other brands.

Great features

Better visual appearance through transparent element
Comes with camera shutter hardware key
Sharp text and crystal clear images and video display
50 GB online storage in association with Box
Easily capture good quality snaps of 1080p quality
Decent browsing experience
Decent battery performance (1750mAh Li-Ion)
Decent call quality
Geo tagging
Face & smile detection, 3-D sweep panorama, image stabilization

Shortcomings

Thickness is high
Comes with sharp edges which will not be convenient to hold in hands for long hours.
Out of 32 GB of memory only 25 GB is available for the user
Image color distortion
Noise level in image
No automatic adjustment of brightness
Not loaded with the latest Android version available in the market
Not so good keyboard
To get updates, the phone has to be connected to a PC or Mac.
No external storage capability

Conclusion

Even though Sony Xperia S may not fare best in terms of visual appearance, the Smartphone gives the best visual appearance to watch movies and photos.

In addition to the distortion in color reproduction, the display system is not the best as Sony boasts. There are many Smartphones in the market that offer very decent image quality like HTC One X and iPhone 4S.

As Sony Xperia S is not loaded with the latest Android version, it is difficult to compete with HTC One X which comes with Android 4 ICS and priced better than Sony Xperia S when you look into the overall presentation of features.

Overall, Sony Xperia S is not the best option in terms of price and features that it offers.

Sony Ericsson Xperia arc S LT18a Unlocked Phone with Android, 8 MP Camera, 1.4 GHz Processor, and 4.2-Inch Display--U.S. Warranty (Black)
Average Rating:

5 total customer reviews...

New Sony Xperia S Lt 26i 32gb 4.3" 1.5 ghz 12 mp Black Android 2.3 Factory Unlocked Black
Average Rating:

7 total customer reviews...

IM Graphics Plugin Review: You Don’t Need A Graphic Designer

by Jane | Tech Buzz Online on February 27, 2012 · 11 comments

Plugins are very useful to extend features of original application. WordPress has a multitude of plugins each of them adding a unique functionality. These plugins can be downloaded, installed and seamlessly integrated with wordpress.

You can control the functionalities from the dashboard. A picture says ten thousand words and conveys information very fast. There is great demand for graphics from web marketers.

Lot of time and effort is required to find and add graphics on web pages. It is really a great headache for web marketers to find suitable graphics that can be deployed on pages intended to boost sales. IM Graphics plug-in fills in this space aptly.

Need for a graphics plugin

IM Graphics Plugin is a wordpress plugin. Andy Bailey the brain behind another famous wordpress plug-in, CommentLuv has created IM Graphics Plugin. Decoration of web pages is required to attract visitors and make them stay on a page for few seconds or minutes.

It is also possible that lack of attraction lead to lack of sales. It is difficult to source all-rounder who can market the product as well as design the website. Although there are some intelligent, skillful and artistic bloggers who can manage both marketing and design aspects, it is a fact that most of the marketers have no skill or no time to extend into graphics design sphere.

Even though there are some interesting personalities, the expenditure involved for getting trained personnel and put things in practice will be prohibitive. IM Graphics plugin will come handy for those who would like to utilize the graphics created by experts.

What it offers

IM Graphics plugin offers a bunch of graphics devised by professional designers. You can easily use these graphics on landing pages of your website. It is also possible to utilize your own graphics. You will be able to insert high quality graphics on blog posts at the click of a button.

The plugin is ideal for insertion of graphics on landing pages, sales pages and opt-in pages. Website owners and those who are involved in online marketing will come across the necessity of utilization of specialized graphics. This need is aptly fulfilled through IM Graphics plugin.

By purchasing the plugin you will be able save hundreds of thousands of dollars invested towards custom graphic designs. The graphics available with the plugin are brand new and can be easily embedded in your web page or blog post. You will be able to edit, enlarge and manipulate these images without compromising on quality. With the available HTML and CSS code, you can quickly create professional squeeze pages.

For example, you can readily use graphics like Wait!, Stop!, Special Offer, Bonus #1, New Version, Limited Time Discount, Get Instant Access!, Buy Now!, etc. The available graphics are in .PNG and .JPEG formats.

Internet Marketing Graphics Plugin

What gives edge for this plugin over other plugins of similar kind is its quality. Transparent PNG is the new feature which will insert into any kind of background. Traditional graphics can be attached only on white backgrounds. A range of graphics are available through the plugin.

A total of 12 modules are offered through the plugin package. They include blank headers in JPEG format, blank footers in JPEG format, Call to Action button in PNG format (like Get instant access), attention phrases like (wait, stop, etc.), price tags (like $19.95 special price), sticker (like new version, limited version), numbers in different modules, guarantee signs, dollar value signs, bonus signs, check marks and free arrows.

You will also get bonus items with the package. Apart from PSD source files for all the graphics you will also get high quality retro badges pack and empty shapes graphics pack. This is a premium pack of PSD and PNG graphics along with the premium plugin.

Who needs IM Graphics plugin?

IM Graphics plugin is useful for affiliate promoter or internet marketer. Those who cannot afford to spend lot of money for designing can easily avail this plugin to get a whole range of graphic symbols. It is easy to insert into web pages and blog posts.

The plugin is useful for bloggers who will also promote affiliate products and services in addition to their own range of products. It reduces time and effort. You will be able to get high quality graphics in less time. The plug-in is made available at one fourth of the actual price. Add on benefit is the ability to import your own graphics as well.

You will also be able to manage graphics through directories very easily. This is the right time for bloggers and web marketers to own this plugin at a very less price. With this plugin, you will be able to sell more and convert more traffic into sales.

HP Envy 17 Review: Power Plus Beauty

by Jane | Tech Buzz Online

There are number of laptops in the market featuring windows based operating system and offering high end features backed by powerful processors and memory modules. It is stated that HP Envy 17 fits into the category of desktop replacement. Let us find more about the product and its pros and cons. Technical Specifications HP Envy 17 comes [...]

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Avenger Thesis Skin By Thesisawesome: Review

by Jane | Tech Buzz Online

I’m a fan of Thesis theme. I have a handful of blogs running on Thesis theme. The beauty of Thesis is that it is a framework and not just a theme. So you can make unlimited number of unique looking blogs using Thesis. Now Thesis theme is not just about the looks. It is more [...]

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Asus G74SX-A2 Review: Gaming Laptop

by Jane | Tech Buzz Online

Taiwan based electronic products manufacturing major, ASUSTeK Computer Incorporated produces various competitive products which are supplied under the brand name, Asus. The range of products includes desktops, laptops, tablets, servers, mobiles and motherboards, optical drives and graphics cards. It has introduced many flavors of laptops over the past many years and has good reputation in [...]

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Samsung Galaxy Note Review: A New Life Into PDAs

by Jane | Tech Buzz Online

Samsung Galaxy Note – With the enormous success of smartphones, personal digital assistants (PDA) came to the state of extinction. Smartphones with their ability to offer innovative features through smart applications are expanding their horizon every day. It became people’s choice for convenience, comfort and quick access. A majority of operations performed on laptops and [...]

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Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook Review

by Jane | Tech Buzz Online

Dell XPS 13 – an ultrabook with many unique features is being launched by Dell. Dell, the most trusted brand has a large variety of computers to cater both consumer and enterprise segment. Interestingly, the current model is targeted to attract both business and consumer users. Dell comes up with this innovative idea as most [...]

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