Samsung Galaxy S3 review

Feature set

Crammed full of features. We’re not sold on S-Voice but there’s still a fabulous eight-megapixel snapper that lets you share your pictures in all sorts of ways, plus 4G support for seamless media streaming.

Style and handling

The design is the same ‘inspired by nature’ type that we saw on the first Galaxy S III – and it looks great. But it’s not the sturdiest handset we’ve seen so don’t drop it.

Battery power 

You should get a good 24 hours out of a full battery – pretty good for a mobile sporting such a large, bright display. If you’re streaming media, the figure drops to a still-impressive seven hours.

Performance 

A quad-core chip sits under the hood, providing speedy, smooth performance and a good deal of futureproofing.

User friendliness

The operating system of choice here is Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, which is beautifully accompanied by Samsung’s user friendly TouchWiz interface. The display measures 4.8 inches and is so bright it can be viewed in direct sunlight (if there ever is any).

Pros :
Really sharp,  colourful display; Snapper is crammed with features; Quad-core processor; support for 4G.

Cons :
S-Voice is disappointing; Few updates from first Galaxy S3.

Verdict:

Samsung has not changed a lot from the original Galaxy SIII apart from of course the addition of 4G support. However, the Galaxy S3 LTE is still one of the best handsets of 2012.

Acer Iconia Tab A210 Review

Acer Iconia Tab A210 review

Under the hood lurks an Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor, accompanied by 1GB of RAM, while built-in storage adds up to 16GB. It is also possible to hook up to another hard drive using the full-size USB port, which features along with a standard microSD slot.

Style and handling 

A solid body makes this tablet feel sturdy, and it resists scratches and scuffs as well.

Battery power

The battery will last overnight with moderate use.

Performance summary for 

Both HD media and multitasking ran smoothly, although you won’t get the best from media on the screen, which only supports 256 colours and is mid-resolution.

Pros :
Quad-core processor is futureproofed; good price; full-size USB port; user-friendly Android Ice Cream Sandwich OS.

Cons :
Dull screen; pedestrian design; better-specced, cheaper tablets available.

Verdict:

The Acer Iconia Tab A210 is a well-priced, quad-core tablet device but there are already cheaper tablets with better specs on the market.

Sony Xperia T Review

Although its rectangular design seems rather retro, the textured rubber back and flat glass front look good and the Xperia T feels sturdy to hold.

User friendliness summary for Sony Xperia T

Android Ice Cream Sandwich offers some wonderfully streamlined apps, while Sony has added some neat touches to the interface

Feature set summary for Sony Xperia T

The 1.5Ghz dual-core processor and 1GB Ram runs HD films, games and video capture smoothly, while the 13-megapixel snapper produces clear, vibrant shots.

Performance summary for Sony Xperia T

The ‘Reality display’ has a fabulous resolution that makes games and movies look brilliant. It copes with multiple apps admirably, and the sensitive touchscreen makes finding your way around the phone simple.

Battery power summary for Sony Xperia T

You’ll see the Xperia T take you from one day to the next with moderate use

Pros

Fantastic snapper; great HD screen; good build quality; brilliant HD display, solid build, easy-to-use interface

Cons

Unimpressive design, well-executed but unexciting features

The verdict

Sony has produced yet another great media superphone in the shape of the Xperia T. It has an impressive snapper, captures HD video, and Sony has added its own neat touches to Android Ice Cream Sandwich.

Motorola RAZR i Review

The display doesn’t quite go edge to edge, but it’s sharp and really colourful. The snapper is an eight-megapixel model that offers a burst mode of 10 shots a second. Startup is quick from sleep mode, but the shutter lag is frustrating.

Style and handling summary for Motorola RAZR i review

It looks good and is made to be durable – there’s even splashproofing to keep the insides safe. We also couldn’t stop stroking the soft rear panel!

Battery power summary for Motorola RAZR i review

A real strength – you’ll get a good day out of a full battery on light use, while if you play with lots of apps it will last a full day. Video streaming gives you an excellent eight hours.

Performance summary for Motorola RAZR i review

Under the hood sits an Intel Atom chip (also found in the Orange San Diego), which proves itself very able, even if you’re running the latest power-hungry games. You’ll only see better performance from a quad-core handset

Pros :
Large, crisp vibrant display; lengthy battery life; powerful performance; Ten shots a second 

Cons :
Snapper’s shutter suffers from lag

Verdict:

The Motorola Razr is a well-designed handset, offering top battery life, powerful performance and a stunning display. The snapper is feature packed too, although the shutter lag frustrates.

Apple iPhone 5 Review

Pros :
Sleek Apple design; 4G support to come; larger, vibrant display; powerful performance; nearly the same great snapper as on the 4S; Siri proves her worth now.

Cons :
Steep price; OS looks dated; Maps limited and suffer from bugs; Most apps have ugly borders; Lack of memory card slot; Fragile feel.

Verdict:

We’re not surprised that this is the best iPhone to date. It’s thin, light and has a roomy 4-inch Retina screen. But the operating system feels dated and there are some major issues. Plus, Apple has brought nothing major new to the show. Of course there are the usual iPhone issues too – that fragile feel and the lack of a memory card slot, along with the wallet-busting price.

Huawei Ascend D2

About a month ago, the Huawei Ascend D2 was revealed officially in China, becoming the maker's first attempt to make a splash into the 5-inch category of Android high-ends. A number of details regarding its specs, however, were not disclosed during the announcement, such as the screen's resolution and the processor's make and model.

But now that the Huawei Ascend D2 has been spotted in the GLBenchmarkdatabase, some of the aforementioned blanks got filled with intriguing information. The smartphone's 5-inch screen has a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels, which is exactly what smartphones like the HTC Droid DNA and the ZTE Nubia Z5 have to brag with. Actually, the database specifies a screen size of 1800 by 1080 pixels, but we think it is safe to assume that the missing rows are occupied by on-screen buttons.

Furthermore, a GPU made by Hisilicon Technologies is being mentioned. Since the company is a Huawei subsidiary, we are led to believe that the Ascend D2 comes with a homemade SoC. The K3V2 chip made by Huawei made an appearance on the Ascend D quad, and as our mobile processor comparisondemonstrated, the silicon is decent a performer. The quad-core chip used in the Huawei Ascend D2 runs at 1.5GHz, but whether it is the K3V2 or a newer model isn't known yet. Last but not least, the benchmark confirms that the smartphone has Android 4.1 pre-installed.

ZTE Apache 8-core CPU

ZTE is on a roll. Now the fourth largest smartphone manufacturer globally, there is a rumor that could take ZTE to the forefront of smartphone producers. If true, this smartphone will put the kibosh on talk that the Chinese OEMs can only produce low to mid-range models. Have your salt nearby? Great! Here goes.

The ZTE Grand X will be far surpassed by the ZTE Apache

The ZTE Apache is expected to come to market in 2013 with an 8-core CPU under the hood. Mediatek is said to have beaten out both NVIDIA and Qualcomm for the job to produce the unnamed ARM15 MT6599 chip which would be manufactured using TSMC's 28nm process. The rest of the specs are just as spectacular including the 1080p display, 13MP camera and WCDMA/4G LTE/TD-SCDMA support which means China Mobile's proprietary 3G network will support it.Those in the states are more interested in the LTE 4G support.

If the ZTE Apache is everything it is rumored to be, smartphone fanatics will never be able to look at the OEM in the same way. At the same time, the device also puts Mediatek in the spotlight as well. It's way too early to start fantasizing about this handset, but a daydream or two is allowed.

Samsung Galaxy S IV specs

The Samsung Galaxy S III is an outstanding handset, still showing great sales, and is a fully capable device by just about any measure. By Samsung’s device life-cycle though, it will be long in the tooth by the new year. 

Enter the Samsung Galaxy S IV (or S4). Rumors about such a device have been in the ether, and today we learned that it will likely have a 4.99-inch Super AMOLED display. A Korean site is reporting that in addition to the fully HD 1920x1080 screen, we can expect to see it on display at CES 2013. 

Other sources are confirming that the new S4 will have a 13 megapixel camera, a quad-core 2GHz Exynos 5450 processor with an 8-core GPU, and 64GB of storage. Can you say power? The memory chip is said to be thinner, thus contributing to a reduction in the thickness of the overall phone as well.

If expectations are met and we get to see this new device at CES 2013 (or hopefully sooner if it leaks), then we can expect to see a release of the new Galaxy S4 to the masses sometime in the second quarter, about one year after the Galaxy S III made its debut. 

Install Android on your PC

Android is the world’s most prolific mobile operating system, and in a couple of years it might well become more popular than Windows with mobile devices ending up in almost every pocket. But what if you could install Android on not just your mobile device, but computer as well? Turns out, it is possible.

Having Android as your main computer operating system however is not guaranteed to work - driver support, and a ton of stuff may or may not be there, so it’d be best if you first try running Android via a USB drive to check compatibility.

Otherwise, all efforts to bring Android to PCs is courtesy of the Android-x86 project. Android is a Linux-based platform after all, so the core is there.

We have to stress that everything is still under development and not final, so this is more of an undertaking for tech enthusiasts rather than the average user. 

Hit the source link right below for the complete tutorial and a bunch of links to read more about the project.

source: XDA Developers 

Google Nexus 10 review

Testing out the strength of its Wi-Fi connection, it’s able to retain a solid connection with a wireless router that’s located approximately 30 feet away in another room. Furthermore, we didn’t see its signal strength greatly fluctuating in the same locations.

Surmising it can be related to optimizations with Android 4.2 or the new dual-core Exynos chipset it’s using, but the Nexus 10 delivers one great battery life in our testing. So much so that we’re able to get nearly 2 whole days of normal usage with its fully charged 9,000 mAh battery, which is amazing considering it’s sporting that super high resolution display and whatnot. However, it’s worth pointing out that the rear of the tablet gets a bit toasty after prolonged usage.

It lacks the razor sharp design of Asus’ top line Android tablets or the extended wealth of functionality available with the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, but hot damn, there’s no arguing that the Google Nexus 10triumphs over them with its hard to believe price point of $399! Considering that it’s featuring the highest resolution display to grace a tablet thus far, it’s absolutely hard to fathom how it’s priced the way it is. Instead, the Google Nexus 10 is seriously bringing the heat this upcoming holiday season.

PROS

• Incredible high resolution display
• Very good $400 price point
• Stellar battery life

CONS

• No 4G/3G verison
• Some software bugs with Android 4.2
• Choppy performance every now and then

LG Optimus G2

LG is going to release a successor to the Optimus G successor – that rumor is hardly going to raise any eyebrows. However we also got to learn the some of the purported specs of the device and that's where things get exciting.

The LG Optimus G2 (or perhaps G II) is reportedly going to pack a quad-core 2.0 or 2.5 GHz Krait processor, an Adreno 320 GPU and 2GB of RAM (at least). This sounds a lot like the Qualcomm's MSM8974 chipset, which is a part of the chip maker's upcoming Prime lineup.

At the front there's going to be a newly developed LG display, which will have 1080p resolution. We already heard that LG is working on a 1080p screen for smartphones and it's only logical that the Optimus G successor will be the first to employ it.

As for the camera, 13MP or more will be present for sure, since the current generation Optimus G is already offering 13MP snapper on its back.

Finally, the rumor has it that the Android version powering the next LG flagship will be 5.0 Key Lime Pie.

The Optimus G2 will hit the market next year and while LG is (supposedly) aiming at a Q3 release, which makes sense, given that the Qualcomm chipset is only going to become available in Q2 of next year.

Nokia Asha 205 and Asha 206

Today Nokia announced two new additions to its feature-phone lineup, the Asha 205 and Asha 206. Both phones come with dual-SIM variants as well, and look to dethrone the Asha 201 as the cheapest offering currently in the Asha lineup.

The Asha 205 comes with a 2.4 inch screen of 320 x 240 pixel resolution, 64 MB of internal memory, and a 0.3 MP camera capable of VGA images and QCIF video. It also features a full-QWERTY keyboard.

The Asha 206 has the same 2.4 inch QVGA screen, except in portrait orientation, and the same 64 MB of internal memory. Its camera has been bumped up to 1.3 MP, although it comes with a regular keypad, rather than a full keyboard.

Both new devices feature Nokia's new Slam connectivity feature, which allows fast sharing over Bluetooth without the need to pair devices. Slam works with Bluetooth versions 2.1 and up, and on several mobile platforms (Windows Phone and iOS are not supported currently, though). Also, if you're worried about the rather sparse internal memory filling up quickly, each device supports microSD cards up to 32 GB.

Both the Nokia Asha 205 and Asha 206 feature a dedicated Facebook button for quick access to your social profile, and are available in several color combinations.

Zen dual-SIM Android 'Ultraphone U1'

Zen Mobiles has launched a dual-SIM smartphone running Android 2.3 Gingerbread for Rs. 4,999. The Ultraphone U1 has a HVGA 3.5-inch display, 3.2MP camera, no front-facing camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 512MB of built-in storage expandable up to 32GB via a microSD card. It runs on a 1GHz processor and is powered by a 1,200 mAh battery.

The Zen Ultraphone U1 comes preloaded with a bunch of apps that include Skype, Facebook, MapmyIndia, G-talk, nexGTV, WhatsApp, and GaneshaSpeaks.

At the launch of the Zen Ultraphone U1, Mr. Deepesh Gupta, Managing Director Zen Mobile, said, "We at Zen Mobiles aim to deliver consumer friendly products, with latest innovations in place. With our Zen Ultraphone U1, we have kept our commitment to the rapidly evolving smartphone market of the country, by bringing them top of the line product innovations. Zen Ultraphone U1 is one of the top of the ladder innovations from Zen Mobiles and reaffirms our business tenet of getting best of technology to the end consumers at affordable rates. We take pride in bringing pioneering technologies to the mobile users of today, which is in line with transforming their constantly evolving Android mobile experience."

In the sub Rs. 5,000 category, the consumer is spoiled for choice with the availability of a large number of devices such as the Karbonn A5, Spice Mi-320, iBall Andi 107, Micromax Superfone A45 and more.

In the recent past, Zen launched a budget tablet called the Zen Ultratab A100. The Ultratab A100 is priced at Rs. 6,199. It has a 7-inch display with a 480x800 pixel resolution, 1.2GHz single-core processor, 512MB RAM, 4GB storage expandable via microSD card up to 32GB, a 1.3MP video call camera, Wi-Fi and running on Android 4.0.3. You can read a review of the tablethere.

Top five Windows 8 phones

In a market that’s saturated with iOS and Android devices, and one device is almost indistinguishable from the other - Microsoft (once again) has tried to offer something different. WithWindows Phone 8, the Redmond crew aims to make a phone that is truly personal, and has something for everyone.

With five new handsets ready to raid the cellular market from big names like Nokia, HTC and Samsung, it can be a little difficult to pick the right handset, so we’ve made it easier for you to make a good purchasing decision, with the following comparison and analysis:

Features	Nokia Lumia 920	Nokia Lumia 820	HTC WP8X	HTC WP8S	Samsung Ativ S
Display
Resolution	1280x768	800x480	1280x720	800x480	1280x720
Screen Size	4.5 inch	4.3 inch	4.3 inch	4 inch	4.8 inch
PPI	332	217	341	233	306
Glass Type	Gorilla Glass 2	Scratch Resistant	Gorilla Glass 2	Gorilla Glass 2	Gorilla Glass 2
Body
Dimensions (mm)	130.3x70.8x10.7	123.8x68.5x9	132.3x66.2x10.1	120.5x63x10.28	137.2x70.5x8.7
Weight (grams)	185	160	130	113	135
Specs
CPU	Qualcomm S4 1.5GHz Dual Core	Qualcomm S4 1.5GHz Dual Core	Qualcomm S4 1.5GHz Dual Core	Qualcomm S4 1GHz Dual Core	Qualcomm S4 1.5GHz Dual Core
RAM	1GB	1GB	1GB	512MB	1GB
Storage	32GB	8GB	16GB	4GB	16/32GB
Expandable	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
NFC	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Main Camera
Resolution	8.7MP, BSI	8MP	8MP, BSI	5MP	8MP, BSI
Flash type	Dual LED	Dual LED	LED	LED	LED
Aperture	f/2.0	f/2.2	f/2.0	f/2.8	f/2.6
Video resolution	1080p	1080p	1080p	720p	1080p
Stabilization	OIS	OIS	No	No	No
Front Camera
Still Resolution	1.2MP	.3MP	2.1MP	No	1.9MP
Video Resolution	720p	VGA	1080p	No	Unknown
Battery	2000mAh	1650mAh	1800mAh	1700mAh	2300mAh

As you can see, the Windows Phone 8 line up looks pretty impressive in terms of their features, but each phone has something unique to offer. The Nokia Lumia 920, Nokia’s flagship WP8 device, runs the top-of-the-line hardware specifications, but packs in the PureView technology that was showcased in the 808 PureView. Nokia’s also packed in an f/2.0 lens into the Lumia 920 which includes, for the first time in a cellphone, optical image stabilization based on floating lens elements. If the preliminary tests are to be believed (and we don’t see a reason not to), the Lumia 920 hands down has the best camera that’s been packed into a phone, this side of the 808 PureView. On the flipside, the Lumia 920 is thick and definitely the heaviest WP8 phone in the lineup. That could be attributed to the impressive camera optics and a 2,000mAh battery Nokia’s packed into the body though. Sadly, it doesn’t come with a micrSD slot to increase the stock 32GB storage.

Nokia Lumia 920

Directly competing with Nokia’s Lumia 920 is the HTC Windows Phone 8X (henceforth, WP8X). Interesting/confusing naming scheme aside, HTC’s WP8X handset is extremely beautiful. Sure it may not have the brilliant camera of the Lumia 920, but it definitely beats the Finnish company’s phone in terms of form factor. The 8X is deceptively thin, with gently curved back that, despite the large screen size, seems to fit into our palms like it was made just for our hands. We’re almost tempted to say that we’d trade in the bulk, heft AND camera of the Nokia Lumia 920 for the sturdy and svelte HTC WP8X.

HTC Windows Phone 8X

The third premium Windows Phone 8 device is the Samsung Ativ S, a 4.8 inch phone that we can swear is a borderline phablet. It’s got the biggest screen size of all the phones, and the biggest battery too (2300mAh) to power that gorgeous display. It even comes in flavours of 16GB and 32GB onboard storage so you can have your pick. The icing on the cake, however, is that the Ativ S has a microSD card slot so you can pack in more music and movies onto this large device.

Samsung Ativ S

While premium flagship devices always steal the show, there’s still a lot of people who would love to have the premium features without paying the premium price. That’s where the Nokia Lumia 820 and HTC Windows Phone 8S (WP8S) come in. Both the phones feature a lower screen resolution of 800x480 pixels, but the slightly smaller screen on the HTC WP8S allows it to have a better overall pixel density. Both the phones come with microSD card slots so you can increase their stock storage capacities, which the Lumia 820 has more of (8GB vs. 4GB).

Nokia Lumia 820

Then there is also the point that even though the HTC WP8S is far more gorgeous looking, it lacks a front facing camera altogether. Even though the Lumia 820’s front facing shooter is a disappointing .3 megapixel rated, at least its something. Another feather in the Lumia cap here would be the faster processor (1.5GHz over the 1GHz in the 8S) along with double the RAM (1GB in the Lumia and 512MB in the 8S).

HTC Windows Phone 8S

These five phones are the first wave of Windows Phone 8 devices that should be hitting the shelves before the year ends. Other manufacturers like Huawei are expected to show off their Windows Phone 8 branded handsets around the time Mobile World Conference kicks off in February 2013. However, if you’re eagerly waiting to pick up a WP 8 handset, the first wave of WP 8 devices is an excellent lineup to choose from.

Samsung Galaxy Note II review

GOOD                           BAD

• Buttery-smooth performance
• Outstanding battery life
• Much-improved handwriting recognition
• S Pen is becoming legitimately useful

• Display remains imperfect
• Paucity of good stylus apps
• Plastic construction
• S Planner is a downgrade from default Calendar app

When first announced, the Galaxy Note II looked and felt very much like a supersized Galaxy S III with a slightly fancier stylus attached. After spending some quality time with it, I’ve come to the conclusion that that’s exactly what it is. And that’s a good, nay, a very good thing indeed. The S Pen has matured and improved in subtle but significant ways, while the GS III formula has only been upgraded with a larger battery and an even more generous screen size. At nearly 5 inches, Samsung’s flagship 2012 phone is already too big for a lot of people to comfortably use one-handed, so why should they not opt for the larger, but also more capable, Galaxy Note II?

Relative to its predecessor, the Galaxy Note II is a clear and unequivocal upgrade. It’s now more powerful, lasts even longer, and ships with the best software that Samsung has yet put on an Android device. It doesn’t feel as characterful or quirky as the original Galaxy Note, and it is indeed festooned with superfluous apps and software presets, but those are small hurdles you can either disable or avoid. The commercial success of the first Galaxy Note came as a surprise, however the same won’t be true of the Galaxy Note II. It represents the best possible marriage of the Note lineage and Samsung’s 2012 technology and is likely to cement the Korean company’s position as the premier Android device maker.

LG Optimus G review

LG Optimus G (Sprint)

GOOD                            BAD

• Great IPS display
• Thin, elegant design
• Very fast processor

• 13-megapixel camera underwhelms
• Difficult to learn software
• Sealed Micro SIM card

The Optimus G is the first time in recent memory that LG has managed to legitimately get a flagship Android smartphone on US carriers. Part of the reason for that is that the Optimus G hits all the right notes: a fast quad-core processor, LTE, excellent screen, and above-average build quality. LG has finally managed to put all those pieces together into an excellent hardware package with a modicum of design flair.

Unfortunately, as of this writing Sprint has yet to announce a price or a release date for the Optimus G. The absence is another sign that LG doesn't have the same marketing muscle as the company it so often emulates: Samsung. Taken as a whole, the Optimus G doesn't quite match the overall consistency that Samsung or HTC have brought to the table. That's primarily due to some software foibles that would be forgivable on a lesser phone, but feel out of place in the upper echelons. If you're experienced enough with Android to work around the software hassles, you'll find the Optimus G to be a fast and fluid smartphone.

Update: Sprint has announced pricing and release date information for the Optimus G: November 11th for $199.99 on-contract.

Which leads me to the elephant in the room: those rumors that the next Nexus device will be based on this phone. Every gadget needs to be judged on its own merits, but I'm imagining a world where Google helps LG refine the hardware and the software is stock Android — and it seems lovely.

Sprint's take on the Optimus G is much closer to what LG originally created for the smartphone, both from a hardware and a software perspective. The benefits of a cleaner set of software are offset by a 13-megapixel camera that simply isn't as good as the 8-megapixel cameras on other phones.

HTC Windows phone 8X

Windows Phone 8X

GOOD                            BAD

• Standout industrial design
• Pixel-dense, beautiful display
• New homescreen adds versatility
• Upgraded audio hardware

• App ecosystem remains deficient
• Not the best ergonomics for a 4.3-inch phone
• Beats Audio and new front-facing camera are superfluous gimmicks

The Windows Phone 8X is what every new smartphone should aspire to be: a combination of the software and hardware vendor’s best work to date, topped off with some unique new additions of its own. Everything that HTC could transport from its Android One series has made the leap to the 8X — the unibody case, dual-core processor, HD screen, camera filters, and even Beats Audio — and all of Microsoft’s mobile development efforts over the past few months are represented in the brand new Windows Phone 8. Topping them off is a truly individual design that will resonate with buyers tired of the smartphone monotony that has befallen much of the market.

Though laudable in its intentions and much of its execution, the 8X falls a little short. The primary culprit is Microsoft’s chronic inability to spur a third-party app ecosystem for the Windows Phone platform. There have been significant improvements in Microsoft’s own software and services, but without the ubiquitous support that competitors iOS and Android enjoy, WP8 faces an uphill struggle in trying to uproot users from their established ecosystems. HTC has done its utmost to assist this venture on the hardware side, but it barely moves the needle when it comes to software enhancements. You get a lot for your $99 when signing up for the LTE-capable Windows Phone 8X from AT&T, but in the end, it’ll be up to Microsoft to determine whether buying into its ecosystem was an investment worth making.

Nokia Lumia 920 review

The Nokia Lumia 920 is the company’s third attempt at launching the definitive Windows Phone. In April, Nokia and Microsoft tried to convince the world that theLumia 900 and Windows Phone 7.5 was that device, but that claim had a shorter expiration date than anybody realized. Its days were numbered, as Windows Phone 8 was an under-the-hood overhaul that wasn’t compatible with the phone.

The Lumia 920’s launch was mishandled at best. The compelling PureView camera was undercut by a marketing snafu when Nokia faked a video purporting to show its low-light capabilities. Neither Nokia nor its carrier partners could commit to a firm release date, and potential buyers have had to wait nearly two months to purchase the phone. In that time both the iPhone 5 and the Nexus 4 appeared on the scene — the competition has not stood still.

Though the Lumia 920 stumbled out of the gate, it still aims to be the long-shot, dark horse surprise of the smartphone race.

Nokia Lumia 920

GOOD                           BAD

• PureView camera takes incredible low-light shots
• Large, responsive screen
• Nokia software enhancements

• Very heavy and bulky
• App ecosystem remains deficient
• Some issues with LTE reception

Many of the frustrations we used to have in Windows Phone are now gone with this latest version, and Nokia has given the OS a very good stage with the Lumia 920. The speed and multitasking improvements, connections to Xbox and SkyDrive, and Start Screen experience are all much better, but there’s still a critical lack of apps and they too often feel as though they’re not as good as what’s on other platforms.

It’s fitting that I’m reviewing the Nokia Lumia 920 while Microsoft’s Build conference is going on here in Redmond. Microsoft has resolved many of the developer complaints with Windows Phone and is aggressively courting them to bring more and better apps to the platform. The work to bring Windows Phone 8 up to par is happening all around me — and it needs to keep happening. With its new core, Windows Phone 8 is in many ways a completely new platform that should enable rapid innovation — and users will need to continue to wait for it to come into its own.

The Lumia 920’s hardware and design is top-notch, the screen is lovely, and the camera is a marvel in low light — but you can’t ignore just how big and bulky the phone is. The software and hardware tradeoffs inherent in the Lumia 920 could be worth it if you’ve bought into the Microsoft ecosystem, but for most people I don’t think it’s a sure bet.

Samsung Galaxy S4

Samsung’s next gen Galaxy smartphone, the Galaxy S IV may be unveiled at CES 2013, which happens in January, or at MWC 2013 (Mobile World Congress) that takes place in February.

If rumours on the Internet are to be believed, theKorean giant's next smartphone is expected to feature a 4.99-inch display with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. This means that the display will have a 445 ppi pixel density, which is really high. Currently, the iPhone 5' 4-inch display is 326ppi, and the Samsung Galaxy S III's 4.8-inch display is 306 ppi.

Other speculation suggests that the device may also house a 13MP camera. The Galaxy Note II was also rumoured to have a 13MP camera but at launch we saw that the device housed an 8MP camera, so will believe the 13MP camera on the smartphone when we see it.

Under the hood, a quad-core Exynos 5450 processor clocked at 2GHz may power the device and we suspect the it will have 2GB of RAM.

This isn’t the first time that we’ve heard about rumours of the Samsung Galaxy S IV.

In September 2012, the Korea Times reads: “Samsung Electronics plans to unveil the latest in its Galaxy line, the S4, at a European technology exhibition in February, according to company officials and local parts suppliers for the technology giant.

The timetable was released just three days after rival Apple introduced the iPhone 5, which has received a mixed response from industry experts and consumers as it is seemingly lacking in innovative features.”

Samsung responded to the rumours in September from its official Twitter account stating that the reports of the Samsung Galaxy S IV are untrue.