Sony Xperia Ion Review

We give you a Sony Xperia Ion Review  first look at the upcoming Sony Xperia ion, the first Sony 4G LTE smartphone, in this episode. The Xperia ion features a 4.55-inch thigh definition ouchscreen display, 12 megapixel camera, and a 1.5 GHz dual core processor. It can shoot 1080p video with the rear camera, and 720p video using the camera up front. Hit the video for the full scoop on the Xperia ion!

Sony Xperia Ion Review

The latest Sony Xperia phone may have lost the word Ericsson from its title, thanks to some rebranding by the company, but it has also gained a lot in return.

For starters, its Sony's first ever handset to connect to an LTE 4G network, with AT&T already announced as a carrier in the US. On top of that, it has a large 4.6-inch, 720p screen, with 1,280x720 pixels delivering an impressive visual experience.

The Ion also boasts a 12-megapixel rear camera and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera. That 12-megapixels isn't just a meaningless number as the snaps we took on the show floor were vibrant and very detailed. Those looking to make more use of the camera will appreciate the dedicated hardware button and a fairly quick shutter speed, too.

Wandering around CES, it's easy to see the blurring of the lines between handsets as mobile entertainment on the go and phones being used as game and video players in the home.

The Xperia Ion seems to fit into those blurred boundaries nicely. As well as the obvious PlayStation certification for those game titles available on Android, it also has a micro-HDMI-out port, plus a compatible dock that enables viewing on larger displays. This means users can play music, view photos and even send SMS messages using the TV, while the phone itself can also apparently be controlled using any TV remote (although we weren't able to test that claim).

The Ion even uses a mobile version of Sony’s Bravia Engine, which as the name suggests is the same system Sony uses on its Bravia line of HD televisions. The effect is supposed to be more life like when it comes to colours and tones.

No complaints here then? Well, there is the little matter that the phone currently only snacks on Android 2.3 Gingerbread, like the other Sony handset unveiled at CES 2012, the Xperia S. Sony says the Ion will eventually move up the food chain to run Icecream Sandwich - aka Android 4.0 - but no date has been set for the update.

At least the Xperia Ion's current interface was quick in our tests. Overall, what the Ion might lack in looks it more than makes up for in functionality and it's a powerful device, thanks to a 1.5GHz dual core SnapDragon processor.

A set release date or price for the Xperia Ion is yet to be announced but Sony is expected to deliver the phone in the second quarter of 2012. We'll let you know when a price surfaces.

Sony Xperia Ion Video Review

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3rd Generation iPad Review

Despite the festivities this weekend, I still managed to have some time with the new iPad. I didn't want this review to be as simplistic as "I love this thing" so I decided to use it in a variety of ways, and make sure I got plenty of use with it before writing a review. Also, seeing as this was the first time I could really spend a decent amount of time with an iPad, I thought I'd touch on the features that makes the iPad so amazing, and why it's so much more than just a large iPhone. This may sound dramatic, but it could certainly be the future of computing.
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Soul Calbur 5: A Quick Glance

I wasn't too excited about this release of Soul Calibur. I had counted down to the day that the original Soul Calibur would be released for iOS. But the new Soul Calibur 5? Not so much.

Mostly because they've gotten rid of a number of characters, including the character/style I've been using for years: Cassandra. For a game series that requires memorization, practice, and strategy, this was a very dumb move. It's expected that each new game in the series would change the move sets slightly, but not this much. All other characters that were replaced have a viable alternative with a very similar move set... all but Cassandra. Her fighting style is completely gone. There's no one left that even resembles her. Sophitia fans will notice she's missing, but her children (especially her daughter) carry on her style. The story also seems to revolve around these two characters.
Cassandra was a popular character, and the developers decided to screw over long time fans of the series by eliminating her style completely. I'd probably give this game a much better review if not for this one fact.
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Ultimate Ears 600vi Review (UPDATED!)

I'm not an audiophile, but I really do enjoy listening to music. Recently, I heard some cracking in my headphones, and decided that it was time to get a new set of earbuds. This time, I decided, I was going to go for good ones.

I had three main requirements: an inline remote and mic for the iPhone, great sound, and they had to cost around $100 or less. Fortunately, CultOfMac did a review of a number of headsets, and they had the same requirements. One in particular caught my eye, the Ultimate Ears 600vi, which they named the best of the bunch in their reviews.

So, seeing that Amazon's stock of the headphones was running low, I decided to make my move and buy them. They were delivered a few days ago, and so far, I'm very happy with them.
My full review is below.

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Laptop Magazine Follow-Up Video Review of the DisplayLink-Enabled Lenovo ThinkVision LT142

Laptop Magazine's excitement for the Lenovo ThinkVision LT1421 using DisplayLink technology continued to show through as the reviewer took to YouTube in a video review.

Here's a basic list of the portable monitor's features:

• 14.1-inch display
• 1366 x 768 resolution and matte coating
• Less than 0.5-inch-thick screen. Full dimensions are 13.2 x 8.6 x 0.85 inches 
• 1.8 pounds; 2.4 pounds with cover
• Windows and Mac compatible 

Two big draws to Lenovo's monitor is the quickness and ease of setting up the portable device through a single USB port that also provides power using DisplayLink's technology (watch @2:35). And the second, is how well the device handles HD video -- the reviewer plays a fullscreen YouTube movie trailer at 720p (watch @4:50).

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Lenovo ThinkVision LT1421 Portable Monitor with DisplayLink Technology Receives Editors' Choice Award from Laptop Magazine

_{Photo credit: Laptop Magazine}

DisplayLink pioneered a new category with its video USB technology -- the portable monitor. The timing for easy-to-use USB monitors is ideal for the growing number of mobile workers, who can boost productivity and standout during presentations with additional screen real estate.

If you've been looking for the perfect portable monitor, Laptop Magazine has found a winner in the new DisplayLink-enabled Lenovo ThinkVision LT1421. Combining Lenovo's devotion to quality hardware and DisplayLink's powerful USB video technology, it's not hard to see why it grabbed the magazine's Editors' Choice Award.

"This year, we've seen a couple of vendors rise to the challenge by releasing portable USB monitors that can fit right in your notebook bag. Lenovo's 14-inch ThinkVision T1421 ($199) is clearly the best of these portable displays, with wide viewing angles, great image quality, and the ability to transfer power and data over a single USB connection."

Read the rest of the review here.

The review also mentions two other portable monitors that use DisplayLink Technology:

• The Toshiba USB Mobile LCD Monitor, an ultraportable 14" display with 1366 x 768 HD resolution, ideal for presentations and multitasking. Laptop Magazine reviewed it here.
• and the Field Monitor Pro, a clamshell design with a 15.4" display and numeric keypad, targeted at mobile accountants. Laptop Magazine reviewed it here.

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Desire Review

I represent to your attention the review of a new mobile phone by HTC — HTC Desire.

All with impatience waited this phone earlier it was informed that phone will carry name HTC Bravo but fact is it fact. Comparisons of given phone with Google Nexus not avoid, because devices are constructed on one platform and are in many respects similar, including ex-terior.

Technical Features of HTC Desire

The HTC Desire sizes: 119х60х11.9 mm while at Nexus One 119x59.8x11.5 mm. Also we have differences in RAM (Random-access memory), HTC Desire have 576 MB, Nexus — 512 MB. It's necessary to note at once that HTC Desire has no vocal search, but in HTC Desire there is a firm HTC interface — Sense. However, given phone, also as well as iPhone, needs an unblocking. Nevertheless it should not upset you — unlock the Desire simply!

Material of the phone — velvety to the touch, colour — grey, round the camera — an orange rim. HTC Desire it's impossible to name compact, because have the screen with a diagonal 3,7”, from here and dimensions, comparable with HTC MAX 4G and HTC HD2. But in a hand the device lies conveniently at the expense of the smooth surface of the phone case.

Phone has undergone considerable improvements of a reproduced sound. Basses became much more powerful, the middle channel has got more expressiveness and clearness, good high frequencies. Video on the AMOLED-display (3,7" inch diagonal) looks very fine.

The standard video player supports such formats as: 3gp, MP4 and WMV. Technically it's the best Android of ruler HTC: the capacitor AMOLED-display with a diagonal 3,7”, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, GPS navigation, 5 Megapixel camera.

HTC Desire is mega-worthy device, thus phone will find many fans in any country of the world. If your Desire is locked — I urgently recommend HTC Desire unlocking!

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