Let’s face it, Nokia Phones and Sony Phones don’t hold the glitz and glamour that has dominated the mobile phone market this decade. Formerly leaders in the mobile phone market, their phones were renowned for being reliable and trustworthy, but have since been forced back by the trendy phones made popular through the introduction of smartphones, coming from the first iPhones lingering legacy. This isn’t to say that either manufacturer has gone away though. In fact, they continue to produce good quality mobile phones regularly, as they seek to recapture the market that they once owned. We decided to look at two of their most recent models.
The Sony Experia S is the first mobile phone to be brought out since Sony’s radical rebranding from being Sony Ericsson, to err… Sony. The model looks familiar, with its angular features and compatability with other technical devices such as TVs and stereos. However, it has also introduced a range of new features, such as an impressive 12 megapixel camera and a 1.5GHz dual core processor. Whilst this model holds little in terms of radical changes, its upgrade later in the year to the Ice Cream Sandwich platform could make the Experia S a force to be reckoned with.
The Nokia Lumia 900 isn’t much different from its predecessor, the Lumia 800. However, its screen and battery pack have been enlarged and improved cameras, including a 1.3 megapizel front facing feature. The Lumia 800 was well received by critics, but this mode, whilst not much different, retains the positive aspects such as the smart design and useability, whilst attempting to keep the phone competitive. The big problem, perhaps is the price, which at around £400 sim free, could make cheaper models more attractive.
Chinese computer manufacturer Lenovo has unveiled what it terms an “ultrabook” at this week’s Computer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
This new laptop is far thinner than other models, at just 21mm and added graphics features. The Thinpad T430u will be on sale in the second half of the year.
Google, the internet giant has redesigned its homepage in one of the biggest overhauls it has made since its beginnings. The new face of Google replaces the previous horizontal toolbar, and now involves a black drop down menu that displays Google’s other various features. Google bosses hope that it will enable users to enjoy all the services that Google has to offer.
Googles search engine feature has always found user satisfaction through its simplistic, uncluttered style, which created a need for the new design to remain simple, but also provide the content required.
Further changes involve the need for two clicks to access Google Images or News, in an effort to increase advertising revenues, although decreasing the user friendliness of the site.
Google has removed dozens of applications from its Android market, after it was realised that they were a part of a fraud attempt that involved sending premium rate text messages upon installation, now as the “RuFraud” scam.
Google has claimed that all applications involved have now been removed. Google’s lack of verification and security over its app store has led to criticism in the past, with many now demanding tighter controls over what can be submitted to Android Market.
Police have tested a potential anti riot device that could be used to quell disturbances by emitting a high powered “wall of light” at the subjects. Such is the intensity of the light, that those affected by it are immediately forced to look away. A police spokesman has described the equipment as effective due to the fact that “if you can’t see something, you can’t attack it”.
Tests are still being carried out to examine potential risks to the public, or side effects.
Google’s Streetview gained high publicity at its launch, but has recently hit the headlines for showing the aftermath of the Japanese tsunami. Google sent its specially adapted cars to the affected areas to update the views to show the reconfigured landscape. It has offered before and after shots of the damage, to show how much the tsunami has affected the areas.
Scientists in the United States have claimed that they have used the cloning process to create stem cells in humans. Scientists claim that the research, which involved the creation of a human embryo to study the effects of stem cells and how they could help treat health problems such as Parkinsons disease and organ failure.
Home Secretary Theresa May and Justice Secretary Ken Clarke have fallen out during the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester this week, over May’s claim that an illegal immigrant’s cat ownership enabled him to avoid deportation. Whilst May used the claim to suggest that the Human Rights law needed to be removed, Ken Clarke has claimed that the story is false. Whilst it is no surprise that May has als0 come under fire from Human Rights campaigners, Ken Clarke’s eagerness to dismiss such stories should not come as a surprise either. He is seen by many as the leader of the pro European element of the Conservative Party, and with the Human Rights laws in question having resulted from EU declaration, he will have been sceptical at any criticism of their influence on British law.
Auckland has geared up for the Rugby world cup by rolling out free public wifi on it’s link transport system. Prepare for a deluge of Twitter tweets as fans make there way back from the matches. Buses and some trains will give passengers 3 thirty minute sessions per day while using public transport.
In addition, Callplus and Slingshot have setup thousands of free access spots throughout the city.
There are many businesses, newspapers, TV shows, web providers and more who use the name “Daily”. Now a new newspaper called, imaginatively, “The Daily” has been unveiled by Rupert Murdoch. But this is a newspaper with a difference – no paper. The Daily will be a digital only news service, only available on ipad and only on subscription. The service will launch in the US and may be rolled out to other countries later.
Whilst undercutting the cost of traditional newspaper considerably, Murdoch has had to shell out a lot of money to get this running.
Is it the right strategy? One problem that can be envisaged is the strong US-centric focus there will be on the news, which will be reported from an unashamedly pro-US stance. When it comes to rolling this out worldwide, this could prove quite an obstacle.
