THOSE LOOKING FOR SMARTPHONES that can hold two connections have had very few options to choose from.
This is what makes the Motorola Milestone XT800, the first dual SIM Android phone, so special. The phone lets you use a CDMA and GSM connection with dual standby mode. The package that comes with this double connectivity also makes the XT800 stand out from the crowd.
The XT800 has rounded off corners (unlike the sharpish edges of the original Milestone and the XT720) giving it an oval look. While it does have a metal band running around it, it is mainly built of plastic, although this does not detract from its looks. It fits easily into one's hands and at 137 grams, is relatively light for a device with such a large display. Speaking of the display, it is by far the most striking feature of the phone, with the same resolution and size seen on the original Milestone and the multimediaheavy XT720 — 3.7 inches and 854x480 pixels. There are three touch buttons beneath it, for menu, home and back, and in case you are looking for a search button, well, it is right on top of the device, next to the power/standby button —a case of curious positioning that takes some getting used to.
Specs wise, the XT800 does not do too badly either. There is a 5MP camera with autofocus and dual LED flash, the option to expand memory to up to 32GB (a 2GB card comes bundled with the handset), and usual connectivity options like Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth, as well as a suprise package—HDMI connectivity which lets you connect the phone to an HD display and watch video in 720p HD (the phone's camera, however, does not record HD video). The addition of an HDMI cable is a welcome bonus. And wrapped around this is Android, with its usual mailing, social networking, multi-tasking and Web browsing muscle, along with thousands of apps to try out. The XT800 is every inch a smartphone, and we had no complaints with it as a dual SIM phone either, be it in calling, texting or handling the Internet.
The dual SIM connectivity however takes a very heavy toll of the device's battery. Android phones as a rule require a recharge a day and the XT800 when running two SIMS, required two recharges, especially when one was keeping mails, widgets and social networks in push mode. At one stage, we were almost wishing that Motorola had bundled a spare battery or a portable charger rather than an HDMI cable with the device. While on the matter of wishes, while the phone worked smoothly most of the time, it would have been better if it ran on Android 2.2, rather than the ageing 2.1.
Top that off with a rather ordinary camera, and the Rs 31,999 price tag seems on the steep side. That said, it is by far the best dual SIM smartphone in the country at the moment. Lets hope that it inspires the competition!
FEATURES
3.7-inch, 480 x 854 pixel capacitive touchscreen 550Mhz processor, 512MB RAM, Android 2.1 5MP camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, FM, 137 grams PROs Large, responsive touchscreen, Dual SIM CONs Stiff price tag, weak battery, Android 2.1 Price in India : 31,999
Tech Queries
I want to buy a gaming console. Should I go for a Sony PlayStation 3 with the Move bundle, an Xbox 360 with the Kinect bundle or should I settle for a PSP or an iPod Touch?
First, you need to decide whether you want something portable or not. The iPod Touch offers the maximum portability followed by the Sony PSP. The PS3 and Xbox 360 are for home use only. Then, you need to understand that each system has its share of pros and cons, and each one suits different people. For example, many of the games on the iPod Touch are free and many excellent games cost only $0.99. Plus the latest iPod Touch has cameras and can double up as a music/video player and personal organiser as well. The PSP is preferable if you like actual buttons for playing games rather than a touchscreen. Kinect games on the Xbox 360 appeal more to a family, while the PS3 has a Blu-Ray player and Move offers more precise control over your actions, appealing to more serious gamers who want motion control.
I have a Sony PSP 3000 and want to see movies on it. I know that I have to convert videos first, so I tried to convert what I had to MP4 format but that didn't work. Maybe I didn't put them into the right folder?
Movies look great on the PSP when properly formatted to fit the screen. Simply download and use a free software called PSPvideo9 (www.pspvideo9.com) to convert the videos. It also takes care of transferring the videos to the appropriate folder on the Memory Stick if you connect the PSP to the PC.
New gadget in the market, prices and reviews
DELL LATITUDE 2120
Dell has launched the Latitude 2120; their first dual core Intel Atom-based netbook for the Indian market. Designed for emerging markets, the Latitude 2120 is available in black or blue, has a 10.1-inch display, rubberised outer casing and tamper-resistant keyboard. Users also have the option of configuring it with a multi-touch 1366 x 768 pixel screen instead of the regular 1024 x 600 pixel LCD. Prices start at 19,000 but can go up to 36,000 for machines configured with the Intel Atom N550 processor, Windows 7 Professional, 2GB RAM and 250GB HDD.
19,000 onwards
JVC GX-PX1
Still not an official announcement, but the JVC GX-PX1 looks like the most complete and extensive merger of a still camera and camcorder to date. Rather than just being a still camera that records video, or a camcorder that takes stills, this JVC actually looks like it merges two different devices. It has a 10 megapixel CMOS sensor, 10x optical zoom, 32GB of internal memory and a 3-inch flip-out LCD. Most of the controls like mode adjustment, exposure, power button and all ports are located on the large lens barrel while the main camera body is ultra-slim. Not only can it shoot full HD 1080p video at 60 fps, but it can also take 5 Megapixel still images at 60 frames per second. No price or release date is available yet.
PACK FREE FOR iOS
Avoid confusion on trips with this app that helps you pack your bags. Pack Free displays the items you want to pack in each bag you carry. All you have to do is create a trip and start typing in what you need to pack. Apart from the packing list, the app also includes a to-do and notes section. It can also suggest how many units you need of a particular item based on the duration of your trip. A paid version of the app (simply called PackTM, available for $1.99) adds the ability to store multiple trips.
ZTYPE
Ztype is a quick, easy and addictive little online game which can help improve your typing skills. Just head to www.phoboslab.org/ztype and the small game loads instantly. It follows the style of a space shooter where you have to shoot down enemy spacecraft, except that the spacecrafts are words and your weapons are letters. To shoot down a word, you have to quickly type it out. Naturally, it starts off easy with a few short words, but as you move through the levels, the words increase in number, get longer and tougher to spell.
Dell has launched the Latitude 2120; their first dual core Intel Atom-based netbook for the Indian market. Designed for emerging markets, the Latitude 2120 is available in black or blue, has a 10.1-inch display, rubberised outer casing and tamper-resistant keyboard. Users also have the option of configuring it with a multi-touch 1366 x 768 pixel screen instead of the regular 1024 x 600 pixel LCD. Prices start at 19,000 but can go up to 36,000 for machines configured with the Intel Atom N550 processor, Windows 7 Professional, 2GB RAM and 250GB HDD.
19,000 onwards
JVC GX-PX1
Still not an official announcement, but the JVC GX-PX1 looks like the most complete and extensive merger of a still camera and camcorder to date. Rather than just being a still camera that records video, or a camcorder that takes stills, this JVC actually looks like it merges two different devices. It has a 10 megapixel CMOS sensor, 10x optical zoom, 32GB of internal memory and a 3-inch flip-out LCD. Most of the controls like mode adjustment, exposure, power button and all ports are located on the large lens barrel while the main camera body is ultra-slim. Not only can it shoot full HD 1080p video at 60 fps, but it can also take 5 Megapixel still images at 60 frames per second. No price or release date is available yet.
PACK FREE FOR iOS
Avoid confusion on trips with this app that helps you pack your bags. Pack Free displays the items you want to pack in each bag you carry. All you have to do is create a trip and start typing in what you need to pack. Apart from the packing list, the app also includes a to-do and notes section. It can also suggest how many units you need of a particular item based on the duration of your trip. A paid version of the app (simply called PackTM, available for $1.99) adds the ability to store multiple trips.
ZTYPE
Ztype is a quick, easy and addictive little online game which can help improve your typing skills. Just head to www.phoboslab.org/ztype and the small game loads instantly. It follows the style of a space shooter where you have to shoot down enemy spacecraft, except that the spacecrafts are words and your weapons are letters. To shoot down a word, you have to quickly type it out. Naturally, it starts off easy with a few short words, but as you move through the levels, the words increase in number, get longer and tougher to spell.
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