Tag Archives: REVIEW

Samsung Focus S Review

Posted on by
Reply

The Samsung Focus S is one of the two new Windows Phone 7.5 smartphones for AT&T that succeed last year’s Focus that was build around WP7. The second model is called Focus Flash (reviewed here), which is a more compact Windows Phone that is also more affordable. Of the two, the Focus S can be considered the spiritual successor to the Focus as it has a number of upmarket features over the smaller Focus Flash.

Where the original Focus had a strong familiar resemblance to the Samsung Galaxy S running Android, the Focus S is as close to a Windows Phone 7.5 version of the Galaxy S II as one can get.

Despite a nicer display and a much better camera, the Focus S shares the same processor and RAM as its lower-cost stablemate, which means that the everyday experience is largely the same. Still, the Focus S is an impressive smartphone, with fast performance and the familiar Windows Phone interface ? flawed as it still may be. Read on to find out whether the Focus S is worth the extra $150 on-contract price over its Flash sibling.

If you were to remove the Windows Phone branding and hide the capacitive buttons below the display, you would not be faulted for mistaking the Samsung Focus S for a variant of the Galaxy S II line of Android smartphones. The design cues are very close and the only exterior hardware differences are the requisite capacitive buttons and physical camera key that is required by Windows Phone 7.5. While the Focus from last year had a couple of differentiating factors in its physical design, the Focus S does not break any industrial design ground and fits right in line with Samsung’s other smartphones.

That means that the Focus S is exceptionally thin and light, measuring only 126mm x 66.8mm x 8.5mm (4.96in x 2.63in 0.33in) and weighing in at a feathery 111g (3.9oz). Unfortunately, that also means that it is rather cheap feeling, since it is made entirely of plastic – save for the display, of course.

The display is the same 4.3-inch, WVGA (480 x 800 pixel) resolution Super AMOLED Plus unit seen on the global and AT&T versions of the Galaxy S II. The ‘Plus’ part of the display is an upgrade over the displays on the Focus and Focus Flash and refers to its use of a standard RGB pixel layout as opposed to the much-derided PenTile layout. Colors are extremely vibrant, viewing angles are infinite, and its inky blacks complement the Windows Phone Metro interface well. I did not have any issues viewing the screen outdoors in bright light, which can be a point of difficulty for AMOLED displays.

Below the display are three capacitive buttons for back, Start, and search, as seen on all Windows Phone smartphones. Above it are the earpiece, light sensors, and a new 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera. The sides of the phone are home to a dual-stage camera key, power/sleep/unlock key (right side), and volume rocker (left side). All the buttons have good travel and feedback, but I noticed that they protrude out from the side of the phone a bit farther than most smartphones, which made them prone to being pressed while in a pocket (especially the camera key).

The Focus S features a patterned back that provides a modicum of grip when holding the phone. It’s not as texture deep as the Galaxy S II, but it is better than a smooth, glossy back. Inset into the battery cover is the same 8 megapixel autofocus camera and flash that the Galaxy S II sports. However, due to the limitation of the Focus S’ single-core processor, it does not record 1080p HD video, but maxes out at 720p resolution.

The Samsung Focus S is powered by a 1.4GHz, single-core Qualcomm processor. The phone performs swiftly, and Microsoft’s attractive Metro interface scoots around with ease. The new processor doesn’t make too much of a difference in every day use, but apps open up a tad quicker than on the 1GHz Focus, and processor-intensive games don’t hold the phone back at all.

Windows Phone 7.5 offers a number of performance and usability enhancements over previous versions, including a form of multitasking and live tile support for third-party apps. Microsoft’s vision of quick, glance-able information works as the company promises, but when apps are opened, it still takes longer than I would prefer for them to update with new information and be ready for use.

Surprisingly, the on-screen keyboard on the Focus S did not perform as well during my tests as it does on other Windows Phone smartphones. Instead of keeping up with my quick-tapping thumbs, the keyboard had a tendency to lag and then catch up, as if it were always two steps behind. I have a feeling that Samsung could address this with a software update, but it was quite frustrating.

View the original article here

Samsung Focus S Review

Posted on by
Reply

The Samsung Focus S is one of the two new Windows Phone 7.5 smartphones for AT&T that succeed last year’s Focus that was build around WP7. The second model is called Focus Flash (reviewed here), which is a more compact Windows Phone that is also more affordable. Of the two, the Focus S can be considered the spiritual successor to the Focus as it has a number of upmarket features over the smaller Focus Flash.

Where the original Focus had a strong familiar resemblance to the Samsung Galaxy S running Android, the Focus S is as close to a Windows Phone 7.5 version of the Galaxy S II as one can get.

Despite a nicer display and a much better camera, the Focus S shares the same processor and RAM as its lower-cost stablemate, which means that the everyday experience is largely the same. Still, the Focus S is an impressive smartphone, with fast performance and the familiar Windows Phone interface ? flawed as it still may be. Read on to find out whether the Focus S is worth the extra $150 on-contract price over its Flash sibling.

If you were to remove the Windows Phone branding and hide the capacitive buttons below the display, you would not be faulted for mistaking the Samsung Focus S for a variant of the Galaxy S II line of Android smartphones. The design cues are very close and the only exterior hardware differences are the requisite capacitive buttons and physical camera key that is required by Windows Phone 7.5. While the Focus from last year had a couple of differentiating factors in its physical design, the Focus S does not break any industrial design ground and fits right in line with Samsung’s other smartphones.

That means that the Focus S is exceptionally thin and light, measuring only 126mm x 66.8mm x 8.5mm (4.96in x 2.63in 0.33in) and weighing in at a feathery 111g (3.9oz). Unfortunately, that also means that it is rather cheap feeling, since it is made entirely of plastic – save for the display, of course.

The display is the same 4.3-inch, WVGA (480 x 800 pixel) resolution Super AMOLED Plus unit seen on the global and AT&T versions of the Galaxy S II. The ‘Plus’ part of the display is an upgrade over the displays on the Focus and Focus Flash and refers to its use of a standard RGB pixel layout as opposed to the much-derided PenTile layout. Colors are extremely vibrant, viewing angles are infinite, and its inky blacks complement the Windows Phone Metro interface well. I did not have any issues viewing the screen outdoors in bright light, which can be a point of difficulty for AMOLED displays.

Below the display are three capacitive buttons for back, Start, and search, as seen on all Windows Phone smartphones. Above it are the earpiece, light sensors, and a new 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera. The sides of the phone are home to a dual-stage camera key, power/sleep/unlock key (right side), and volume rocker (left side). All the buttons have good travel and feedback, but I noticed that they protrude out from the side of the phone a bit farther than most smartphones, which made them prone to being pressed while in a pocket (especially the camera key).

The Focus S features a patterned back that provides a modicum of grip when holding the phone. It’s not as texture deep as the Galaxy S II, but it is better than a smooth, glossy back. Inset into the battery cover is the same 8 megapixel autofocus camera and flash that the Galaxy S II sports. However, due to the limitation of the Focus S’ single-core processor, it does not record 1080p HD video, but maxes out at 720p resolution.

The Samsung Focus S is powered by a 1.4GHz, single-core Qualcomm processor. The phone performs swiftly, and Microsoft’s attractive Metro interface scoots around with ease. The new processor doesn’t make too much of a difference in every day use, but apps open up a tad quicker than on the 1GHz Focus, and processor-intensive games don’t hold the phone back at all.

Windows Phone 7.5 offers a number of performance and usability enhancements over previous versions, including a form of multitasking and live tile support for third-party apps. Microsoft’s vision of quick, glance-able information works as the company promises, but when apps are opened, it still takes longer than I would prefer for them to update with new information and be ready for use.

Surprisingly, the on-screen keyboard on the Focus S did not perform as well during my tests as it does on other Windows Phone smartphones. Instead of keeping up with my quick-tapping thumbs, the keyboard had a tendency to lag and then catch up, as if it were always two steps behind. I have a feeling that Samsung could address this with a software update, but it was quite frustrating.

View the original article here

Lian Li PC-Q25 Mini-ITX Case Review

Posted on by
Reply

Over the last decade I’ve reviewed countless Lian-Li cases, many full towers including one that fetched upwards of $700, however as of late it’s been the company’s more affordable mini-towers that have impressed me the most.

The Mini Q PC-V354 that we reviewed about a year ago quickly became my favorite microATX computer case. This model was followed up by a Mini-ITX version called the PC-Q08, which essentially provided all the same features while supporting an even smaller form factor.

Unfortunately, this also meant that the PC-Q08 inherited all the PC-V354′s shortcomings, so Lian-Li went back to the drawing board to refine the product. The fruit of its labor manifested in the PC-Q25, which was announced last August and vowed to be Lian-Li’s most advanced Mini-ITX offering.

The case has plenty of room for high-end hardware, including full-length graphics cards such as the Radeon HD 6990 or GeForce GTX 590. Besides catering to gamers, the chassis also attempts to woo media buffs with support for five 3.5″ hard drives and some impressive cooling options.

The PC-Q25 has received hot-swap connectors to quickly load hard drives, tool-less side panels for faster access and it lost the 5.25″ optical drive bay. The new arrival certainly appears to be a more modern enclosure, but it also seems to have a few drawbacks that we’ll flesh out right up next…

Like most Lian-Li cases, the PC-Q25 has a very clean and minimalistic design. The chassis measures 7.8″ wide, 11″ tall and 14.4″ deep (199x280x366mm) and weighs a featherweight 6.8lbs (3.1kg) when empty. Although it’s slightly longer and taller than the PC-Q08, the PC-Q25′s reduced width takes its internal capacity down 4% from 21.3L to 20.4L.

At the front, we have a sleek brushed aluminum bezel that only features a small circular power button and Lian-Li’s branding. There’s no optical drive support while all forms of front panel connectors are missing as well. Although we’re content with seeing optical support dropped, the lack of front mounted USB is unusual and a little disappointing.

While the PC-V354 was one of my favorite mATX cases, I resented the fact that you had to undo eight screws to remove one of the doors (a patience-straining 15 screws for both doors). The PC-Q25 solves this issue with its tool-less doors, which easily unclip when pulling on a small tab at the back of the door — a welcomed upgrade, to say the least.

Reattaching the door is just as easy and takes a few seconds. The clips hold the doors in place well and when transporting the PC-Q25 we didn’t have any problems with the doors falling off. Both the left and right doors feature small in-take vents along the right side which are utilized by the internal mounted fan to draw cool air into the system.

Another large ventilation grill is underneath the PC-Q25 and features a dust filter that should help keep the case and its internal components clean for longer. There are also four round feet that raise the enclosure off its resting surface by 0.51″ (13mm).

From the top, the PC-Q25 is almost as plain as it is in the front. The only noticeable detail is its 120mm fan grill, though this does blend into the design nicely.

Around the back, you get a feel for just how compact this case is when looking at the motherboard I/O panel slot and PSU bracket. The removable power supply bracket takes up a great deal of real estate, as does the I/O slot. There are also two ventilated expansion slots for your dual-slot graphics card or any other PCI/PCIe expansion device you’re using.

View the original article here

Lian Li PC-Q25 Mini-ITX Case Review

Posted on by
Reply

Over the last decade I’ve reviewed countless Lian-Li cases, many full towers including one that fetched upwards of $700, however as of late it’s been the company’s more affordable mini-towers that have impressed me the most.

The Mini Q PC-V354 that we reviewed about a year ago quickly became my favorite microATX computer case. This model was followed up by a Mini-ITX version called the PC-Q08, which essentially provided all the same features while supporting an even smaller form factor.

Unfortunately, this also meant that the PC-Q08 inherited all the PC-V354′s shortcomings, so Lian-Li went back to the drawing board to refine the product. The fruit of its labor manifested in the PC-Q25, which was announced last August and vowed to be Lian-Li’s most advanced Mini-ITX offering.

The case has plenty of room for high-end hardware, including full-length graphics cards such as the Radeon HD 6990 or GeForce GTX 590. Besides catering to gamers, the chassis also attempts to woo media buffs with support for five 3.5″ hard drives and some impressive cooling options.

The PC-Q25 has received hot-swap connectors to quickly load hard drives, tool-less side panels for faster access and it lost the 5.25″ optical drive bay. The new arrival certainly appears to be a more modern enclosure, but it also seems to have a few drawbacks that we’ll flesh out right up next…

Like most Lian-Li cases, the PC-Q25 has a very clean and minimalistic design. The chassis measures 7.8″ wide, 11″ tall and 14.4″ deep (199x280x366mm) and weighs a featherweight 6.8lbs (3.1kg) when empty. Although it’s slightly longer and taller than the PC-Q08, the PC-Q25′s reduced width takes its internal capacity down 4% from 21.3L to 20.4L.

At the front, we have a sleek brushed aluminum bezel that only features a small circular power button and Lian-Li’s branding. There’s no optical drive support while all forms of front panel connectors are missing as well. Although we’re content with seeing optical support dropped, the lack of front mounted USB is unusual and a little disappointing.

While the PC-V354 was one of my favorite mATX cases, I resented the fact that you had to undo eight screws to remove one of the doors (a patience-straining 15 screws for both doors). The PC-Q25 solves this issue with its tool-less doors, which easily unclip when pulling on a small tab at the back of the door — a welcomed upgrade, to say the least.

Reattaching the door is just as easy and takes a few seconds. The clips hold the doors in place well and when transporting the PC-Q25 we didn’t have any problems with the doors falling off. Both the left and right doors feature small in-take vents along the right side which are utilized by the internal mounted fan to draw cool air into the system.

Another large ventilation grill is underneath the PC-Q25 and features a dust filter that should help keep the case and its internal components clean for longer. There are also four round feet that raise the enclosure off its resting surface by 0.51″ (13mm).

From the top, the PC-Q25 is almost as plain as it is in the front. The only noticeable detail is its 120mm fan grill, though this does blend into the design nicely.

Around the back, you get a feel for just how compact this case is when looking at the motherboard I/O panel slot and PSU bracket. The removable power supply bracket takes up a great deal of real estate, as does the I/O slot. There are also two ventilated expansion slots for your dual-slot graphics card or any other PCI/PCIe expansion device you’re using.

View the original article here

Samsung Galaxy Nexus Review

Posted on by
Reply

As the current Google flagship smartphone, the Galaxy Nexus by Samsung is the first device to run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The version for Verizon’s LTE network in the U.S. is slightly thicker than the European model, but it also gets a larger battery and, of course, the 15Mbps 4G downloads on Verizon’s network, otherwise they’re functionally the same.

The super large, super high-resolution display on the Galaxy Nexus is a dream to look at, and the new Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system gives users something very new and interesting to work with. It’s a good combination.

Unfortunately the phone does seem to carry a flaw from scratch, though. Reception, especially on 4G, can be a problem. Not everybody seems to experience this, only showing itself in weaker signal areas. Apart from that, the Galaxy Nexus is every bit the hero smartphone that Google needs it to be to move Android to the next stage of its evolution.

The Samsung-built Google Galaxy Nexus shows off an interesting design without being groundbreaking. It features a subtly curved front glass panel that protects the 720p resolution (720 x 1280) Super AMOLED HD touchscreen display. There are few exterior controls on the phone: a volume control on the left edge and a power switch on the right. The phone feels to be solidly constructed and its 146.2g (5.2oz) weight gives it a nice amount of heft.

The Galaxy Nexus’ 136mm x 68mm x 10.0mm (5.4in x 2.7in x .4in) dimensions can make it a bit of a handful, though. It’s longer and significantly thicker than the Motorola Droid Razr, but fits in the hand a bit better since it is narrower, even when the Razr has a smaller screen. There are no dedicated touch sensitive controls on the phone, which is a feature of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, but it still takes a pretty long reach to get to the upper edge of the display when using the phone one-handed.

The display is absolutely brilliant. It is sharp, bright, and colorful, and its 4.65-inch diagonal size is amongst the largest in the smartphone world. It is my favorite smartphone display on the market today, even though it uses the much-derided Pentile sub-pixel arrangement. Without magnification, I don’t think a normal person will notice the difference and that is what matters in the end.

Removing the Galaxy Nexus’ somewhat thin rear cover reveals the micro-SIM card and slot required for LTE service on Verizon as well as the battery. There’s no microSD memory card slot on the phone, as was the case on the Nexus S, but the Galaxy Nexus does come equipped with 32GB of internal storage. Also found on the back are the 5 megapixel camera and flash. A secondary 1.3 megapixel camera can be found on the front of the phone, and there is also a large, hidden notification light resting beneath the display near the bottom edge of the phone.

With the arrival of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, Google’s OS finally appears to be growing out of its somewhat awkward childhood years and approaching maturity. While Ice Cream Sandwich uses many of the UI themes first introduced in Android 3.x Honeycomb (for tablets), they have been refined and now make better sense. Google has even introduced a new font for the operating system called Roboto. But while Android is a visually changed OS, it still offers the same basic functionality that it always has.

The Galaxy Nexus offers 5 home screens that you can configure. Users still swipe left and right to switch between them, and they can be configured with shortcuts and widgets as before – though all of these features are now accessed from the Widgets tab of the main menu where one previously only found apps. Since there are no hardware keys beneath the display, the main navigation controls are now drawn on the bottom of the touchscreen, which allows them to be more visually appealing and adjusted at times, as needed.

Home and back functions remain, but search and menu are gone. Search is replaced by in-app functionality and the search bar found on every home screen panel. Menu is replaced by an on-screen control made up of three vertically aligned dots that can appear at the top of an app, the bottom of an app, or to the right of the third, and new, main control at the bottom of the screen.

That new control is the task switcher, which is inherited from Android Honeycomb. Tapping on that control brings up a visual history of applications that are running or have recently been used on the phone. One scrolls up and down through the list, switches to an app with a tap, or removes it from the list with a swipe left or right. I was unimpressed by it on a tablet, but love it on a smartphone.

The swipe-to-remove gesture can also be used in the updated notification area at the top of the screen, making it now possible to remove individual or all notifications as desired – something all prior versions of Android lacked. A convenient link to the phone’s Settings app is also found there.

Android still has no proper ringer profile support, but now it allows to toggle between normal, vibrate, and truly silent ringer settings using the volume control. A tap on the on-screen volume will do the trick, as will pressing up or down repeatedly on the volume key on the side of the phone. The Android keyboard has been updated, and features a much larger space key. Voice input on the keyboard, when enabled, is fantastic. It inputs words in near real-time as you speak them when you have a fast enough data connection.

While there’s no built-in support for social networking on the phone, Google provides an API that allows third party apps to integrate not only contacts with the phone, but to also show status updates in a contact record. The new contacts app features an oddball color scheme that doesn’t match that of the rest of Ice Cream Sandwich, though. It’s pretty, but inconsistent with the electric blue on black leanings of the OS as a whole.

Overall, though, I can’t put into proper words just how happy and pleasantly surprised I am about how Android 4.0 operates. There’s a learning curve for new users, but it’s not a particularly steep one, and the rewards in the end are worth it.

View the original article here