Technology

LG Intouch Max review

Can the LG InTouch Max compete with the HTC Tattoo

The LG Intouch Max is a phone that bucks the current Android trend of the likes of the Google nexus one and Motorola Milestone by placing itself squarely at the budget end of the spectrum, while the Koreans are also hoping they’ve packed on enough tech to make this still a decent smartphone.

The new phone features a number of interesting Android additions – the main one being the ability to choose between the ‘vanilla’ Android interface (like that seen on the HTC Magic) or a modified version of LG’s S-Class UI, seen on phones like the BL40 Chocolate. The proprietary UI allows user to scroll through four screens indefinitely, as well as grouping the menu by category of icons, rather than all of them in a big alphabetised jumble.

The build quality of the phone is good – it might be mostly plastic and rubber but it belies its price tag and has some nifty touch sensitive buttons at the bottom for easy navigation, as well as a whacking great menu button for when you need easier navigation. More »

RICOH GXR review

SMLLR SLR

Here is the most vexing problem in photography: to get snaps that look more pro, we need a digital SLR. But the bulk of body and lens combined means that it’s not the most portable option. DSLR quality without the heft is the Holy Grail. Olympus and Panasonic’s Micro Four Thirds interchangeable lens system is one answer. RICOH’s GXR system provides another.

The basic GXR comprises just a three-inch, very hi-res LCD, pop up fl ash, plus handgrip. Not only is there no lens, but there’s also no sensor, because these are integrated into each lens unit. Currently the choice is either a 50mm macro (close-up) lens with 12.3-meg sensor or a 3x optical zoom lens with ten megs. Because the sensor and image processor aren’t in the body but rather twinned with the detachable lens – collectively known as the “camera unit” – Ricoh’s system is expandable in the way that no one else’s currently is. More »

Spotify iPhone, Android and Nokia mobile apps tested

One of the best apps to ever grace the smartphone world tested

Music streaming service Spotify has been branching out. No longer are the Swedes happy with dominating your daily desktop audio, but are bidding to take over your smartphone by outing a series of mobile apps allowing unlimited music on the go.

Spotify Mobile for Apple iPhone, Android and Symbian (the OS for many Sony Ericsson, Nokia and Samsung phones) now means a large proportion of the mobile using public have access to the app for their handset. More »

Gadget Review: Nokia N97

The Nokia N97 was a long time coming to the mobile market. Announced way back in December 2008, it was a further six months till it saw the light of day in the UK. Skip another six months and it’s surprising then that we already have a new version of the handset – the smaller and aptly named Nokia N97 mini.

The N97 mini is a dinky little thing indeed. Measuring just 113 x 52.5 x 14.2mm, the phone snips a full 5mm off the length of the N97 and around 3mm off the width. When it comes to thickness it seems another 4mm have been lopped off. More »

Gadget Review: BlackBerry Bold 9700

RIM has decided to update both its flagship devices at the same time, so following the Storm 2, we’re now treated to the Blackberry Bold 9700.

The keyboard is the most noticeable difference between this and the original version, with 6mm less room to work with. More »

Technology Review: Samsung X120

Samsung’s new ultra-thin and light X120 could well be just the ticket for you who wants something that is a little bit nippier than your average sub-£400 ‘mini-puter’ that are all the rage right now.

Samsung’s X120 will set you back around £500, so the machine sits nicely somewhere in-between Sony’s (reassuringly expensive) £1300-plus VAIO X Series and Apple’s £1000-plus MacBook Air at the very top end, and the slimmer but slower (and hence slightly cheaper) netbooks such as the ASUS Seashell, Acer’s Aspire One and Dell’s Mini 10. More »

Game Review: FIFA 10 for iPhone

It’s fair to say that EA’s football franchise is experiencing something of a gaming revival. Currently sitting pretty on the top of the console charts (apart from the Wii), officially the second fastest selling game in the UK and having delivered a polished follow-up to last year’s impressive outing, EA has clearly got its act together. Turning attention to things a little lower down the gaming food chain, FIFA now enters the hitherto unknown world that is the iPhone, with hopes that their first portable effort will similarly be lauded with generous praise. More »

Review: LG Chocolate BL40 mobile phone

LG’s successor to the fairly successful Chocolate phone sees a new direction for mobile phones, in the shape of the new Chocolate BL40.

Featuring a high res 4-inch screen, it looks more like a remote control than a traditional mobile phone, but that’s so LG can fit in the world’s first 21:9 full cinematic screen on a mobile phone. More »

Review: Sony Ericsson XPERIA X2

After becoming a hot topic the last few weeks, Sony Ericsson finally officially introduced the XPERIA X2.

Like the HTC Touch2, XPERIA X2 will also adopt the latest Windows Mobile operating system, WinMo 6.5, and relies on a number of X UI panels. More »

Review: Toshiba P500 Blu-ray laptop

Toshiba has finally buddied-up with Blu-ray.  In fact they may now be bro-mos. Not only has Tosh announced the BDX200 Blu-ray player, the Japanese giant has pulled out all the stops with its Blu-ray laptop, the Toshiba P500. More »