Review � lightRadio � There�s a lot of Jack in this Box

I’m probably dating myself, but I actually owned one of the first cell phones, admit it, some of you remember� It came attached to a darn suitcase, and seemed to weigh about 5 pounds.� I was pretty proud of it, and come to think of it, the reception was pretty good too! But look how far we’ve come�

As cell phones have become smaller and owning one is now almost compulsory, those unsightly antennas of steel topped by all the necessary transmitters and gizmos that we call cell towers have invaded practically every landscape known to man. So let us welcome Alcatel-Lucent’s lightRadio. Imagine if you will, much smaller antennas, some tiny enough to hold in your hand. A device like that could be placed anywhere, on lamp or utility poles on buildings, heck, anywhere with electrical and network connections. Seriously, a cell tower in a box!

If they can iron out a few details, it could upend the wireless industry and offer amazing service, fantastic voice and data transmissions with no dead spots, fewer dropped calls, and let’s face it, the end of those unsightly towers. Because the antennas will be so much smaller � and can be put in so many more locations, the result is increased signal strength for us all, and who would object to something the size of a Rubiks cube �erected� somewhere near their home?

Alcatel-Lucent also thinks that their new lightRadio can cut both the financial and energy costs of operating a network by 50% or more, because it diminishes upkeep and maintenance costs, energy consumption and because more information can be transmitted at the same time. Gee, I wonder if those claims came to fruition we would actually have our phone bills cut in half. Wait a minute, I’m holding my breath.

Look for these lightRadios to show up sometime soon� you know, if you can find them.


http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/features/light_radio/index.html

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Review � Microsoft�s �Mango� � Making Smartphones Smarter

Wow, we do a lot with our phones these days, I often have so much going on all at once It can be a bit frustrating, the phone can only do so much� I’m not sure a smartphone is really as SMART, as it sounds, The smartphone experience is complicated by tons of different apps and accounts that folks like us need to try and keep up with — from making calls, texts, emails and instant messages and then, status updates, Tweets, check-ins, photo posting and tagging. Its all too much, isn’t it?

Well Microsoft Corp. today previewed the next major release of Windows Phone, code-named �Mango,� Mango will deliver more than 500 new features that will actually integrate the entire smartphone experience including all your communications, apps and the Internet. The new �Mango� release organizes information around the person or the group that we want to interact with, not the app we have to use. More on specific features after the break.

Mango allows its users to switch between text, Facebook chat and Windows Live Messenger all within the same conversation. It will group contacts into personalized Live Tiles to see the latest status updates right from the Start Screen and quickly send a text, email or IM to the whole group. Your Twitter and LinkedIn feeds are now integrated into contact cards, and Mango includes built-in Facebook check-ins and new face detection software that makes it easier to quickly tag photos and post to the Web and hands-free messaging with built-in voice-to-text and text-to-voice support that enables hands-free texting or chatting.

Mango is also a Multitasker. Mango allows you to quickly switch between apps in use and allow apps to run in the background, helping to preserve battery life and performance. In addition to including Internet Explorer, the Mango release will connect the power of the Web to the unique capabilities of Windows Phones, such as location awareness, camera and access to apps, to present a way of viewing the Web that is more localized, actionable and relevant.

They really aren�t going to produce a phone that only makes calls ever again, are they?

The �Mango� release will be available for free to Windows Phone 7 customers and is scheduled to ship with new phones beginning this fall.


Source: � www.microsoft.com

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Review � Nokia Oro for that Midas touch look

Love gold? After all, that is the place where investors flock to if they are looking for a safe haven from all the uncertainties that are going on in the world where their investments are concerned. The failing US dollar and Euro have nudged more people to purchase gold over the past year, bringing it to new highs more frequently than ever before.

Why not show the world that you�re rich enough to afford a gold plated cell phone as well? That is where Nokia steps in with the Nokia Oro, a premium brand product (but nowhere near the Vertu�s range of handsets) that will incorporate 18-carat gold plating which is accompanied by a sapphire crystal and leather from one of Scotland’s finest Caledonian herds (don�t let those animals get skinned in vain � purchase a Nokia Oro!).

Rip open the luxurious exterior and you will find similar high grade parts inside as with the rest of Nokia�s more recent smartphone releases. Based on the latest Symbian Anna update, the Nokia Oro will come with pentaband radio connectivity, HSDPA 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity, an 8-megapixel camera that is capable of shooting video in high resolution (720p), and a 3.5? AMOLED display among others.

It must be said that when you decide to bring a Nokia Oro home, you won�t be making a decision based on a hard spec vs. price comparison, but rather, you will pay more attention to the build quality and materials. Nokia has great plans for the Oro, targeting markets such as the Middle East and Russia where oil money is abundant, and sheikhs and oil barons don�t mind making impulse purchases of 800 Euros and above (yes, that is how much the Nokia Oro will cost before taxes and subsidies).

According to materials designer Robert Lihou, “Our aim was to use the best materials for the purpose. It’s coated with 18-carat gold which has been made scratch-resistant. The leather is from premium Scottish stock. That’s a real sapphire crystal in the home key, which makes it eight times sturdier than glass.”

http://conversations.nokia.com/2011/05/25/gold-ringer-introducing-nokia-oro/

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Review � PowerSkin battery case for the Motorola Droid X and X2

 

PowerSkin should be a familiar name for those who love flipping through catalogues and magazines about cases for smartphones, especially the iPhone that has made plenty of third party manufacturers a lot of money over the years due to its popularity amongst users. Today PowerSkin will look at what Motorola has to offer in the form of the Droid X and Droid X2 battery boosting case.

PowerSkin’s flexible smartphone cases will rely on soft silicone rubber to protect your precious Motorola device from impacts as well as scratches, and with its patented XPAL Powered battery technology, you should, on paper at least, expect to enjoy twice the power with a battery life that will be extended by another 8 hours. All PowerSkins are rechargeable and 100% recycled, save for the battery and internal components, so you need not feel guilty about the environment when you purchase this puppy.

PowerSkins for the Motorola Droid X and X2 will cost $59.99 each regardless of either model, what are you waiting for?

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