Now this new phone has peaked my interest, I have always been a fan of Sony Ericsson but I feel like they haven’t gotten the smartphone formula down yet except when I saw the look of this phone and the specifications. Its a powerful phone inside a very thin sexy looking case and its running Gingerbread (Android 2.3), when they first launched the Xperia they launched it with Android 1.6, and Android 2.01 was out by then and they didn’t upgrade. SE makes great hardware but very slow to upgrade their software, this is where HTC excel, they keep updating your software and the phone just keeps on going.

Specifications:

• 8.7mm Thick
• The Arc comes with a 4.2” display
• GPS
• 8.3Mpix Camera
• HDMI Out
• 1GHz Snapdragon CPU
• Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)

My phone life cycle started off with Nokia back in the early 90s, then switch to Ericsson (before the merger) in early 2000, then switching to Sony Ericsson, and just recently switched to Android with the Google Nexus first came out. Now this phone is making thinking of switching back to the Sony Ericsson platform but the best part is that its all Android and I won’t really won’t have to do much except sign in with my Google account and everything will sync automatically.

I was thinking of upgrading next year, it was probably going to be one of the HTC phones which are to be announced some time in February but the Xperia Arc is a definite candidate with its specifications and style, I just hope its released very soon.

Link: AkibaharaNews

There were are lot of big launches in 2010 but looks like 2011 will be the launch of all kinds of tablets from Windows, Android, Blackberry and don’t forget Apple. The iPad 2 seems its to going to get a revamp with a better screen, just as good as the iPhone 4, maybe a few other things like a better speaker, and dual docking ports so you can use it in landscape and portrait mode. Then there is the HTC which is going to be interesting as I am a big fan of HTC products.

• HTC Pad – Some sort of announcement in February, I’m looking forward to what they have lined up.
• BlackBerry PlayBook – Expected in March
• Apple iPad 2 – Yes a New One, expect it around April
• Asus Eee Pad – Android or Windows 7, Release date around April
• Dell Streak 7 and Dell Streak 10 – Most probably Android

Link: PocketLint

Recently I have been looking about making a major purchase, getting a decently large TV. I was looking at the Mitsubishi DLP Screens as I still believe in DLP technology for large screens. DLP Technology is still maintained by a few manufacturers and they have made huge strides over the years in getting better picture technology and quality into these types of screens, they are amazing, and beautiful to see but also big. If size and weight don’t matter to you then a DLP is your best option, if you want to hang a tv then LCDs or Plasmas are your only option.

In this case I went for a DLP but the choice was 3D or not, and the new one had a few new niftier options with better black. Having good blacks on a screen is very important to get a high picture quality and it was tempting me. But the same model Non-3D TV was almost 20% and it didn’t seen worth it to me, I would be saving at least 200-300 KD. And I honestly don’t see 3D as a deciding factor, its getting to be more an annoyance with those damn glasses. Until they invent TVs without the 3D Glasses I won’t be purchasing one any time soon. I think honestly consumers are getting annoyed with 3D more then anything else!

Now this is a product I wasn’t expecting from Bose, but I am happy that they came up with it. I have known Bose to make high quality headphones so it seems to me that they might make som very good Bluetooth Headsets, and in this case it seems that the test has proven the quality of them. I have added it to my Amazon Cart after reading the review with the details of the quality and easy of use with these headsets. Based on this statement “The audio quality is superb: clear, sharp and concise” I want this headset.

It also comes with the company’s, relatively, new StayHear tips, which also come with its current range of in-ear buds. The headset also has an easy to reach on/off slider, plus volume and call buttons, and a USB port allowing it to be charged via a laptop, computer or the supplied dedicated plug adaptor.

Link: PocketLint

Getting a DSLR is relatively easy these days but picking a lens is a daunting task. There are so many different kinds and brands of lenses and it takes a lot of research to figure out the right type of lens to purchase, the selection is huge. What Lens Hero does is unravel this whole mess and give you a large selection with all the types of criteria that you could think of and then they tell you what the lenses are good for and its best and worst qualities. For any photographer this website has fantastic amount of information, I try not to look at it so I don’t purchase any more lenses, you can never have too many lenses.

Search & Adjustment Criteria:

• Wide Angel Photo Length
• Telephoto Focal Length
• Price
• Camera
• Lens Type

Then they give you all the details of each specific lens when you look at the details of the lens.

Link: LensHero

Scott Wilson is the designer behind the TikTok & LunaTik that has stormed the web the past month, every tech and designer website talking about it. It honestly deserves the fame just because of the unique and high quality design, it even appealed to me.

TikTok and LunaTik simply transform the iPod Nano into the world’s coolest multi-touch watches. The idea to use the Nano as a watch was an obvious one ever since the product was announced. But we wanted to create a collection that was well designed, engineered and manufactured from premium materials and that complemented the impeccable quality of Apple products. Not just clipped on a cheap strap as an afterthought. We wanted to create a product that your friends and strangers would stop you and ask “WTF is that??? And where can I get one?!”

That isn’t the only thing that got me interested, I clicked on the link and found myself at the TikTok+LunaTik Kickstarter page. This was an interesting experience, you pledge certain amount of money and you get a product or certain products all based on the amount you pledge, its like preordering the product at the price you choose based on the package you want. Turns out Kickstarter is a new concept which helps designers and product developers to get the income they need to make their product, its a unique and fantastic approach to connect the developers with the consumers. TikTok+LunaTik was an extremely successful result, the goal of the pledges was $15’000 but it shot past it up to $941,718 which is extremely alot more then they were expecting. I pledged $160 to get the TikTok & LunaTik, I honestly never really thought about the iPad Nano except after seeing this design, it would make it easier more me to put on a watch and listen to music while riding then to have it in my pocket. The design is genius and because of this design it urged me to get the Nano, so I think they have been successful in designing a product which would appeal to people and everyone loved it. I think that the Kickstarter Platform is fantastic and I’m looking at other products that they might have, it ranges from music to photography equipment, I’m enjoying seeing these interesting products.

Link: Kickstarter

The Nexus S. Built by Samsung, it’s got a 4-inch Super AMOLED “Contour Display,” 1GHz Hummingbird processor, 5MP Camera in the back and VGA camera in the front, NFC support, and most importantly, it’s running a completely clean version of Android 2.3 Gingerbread. With this device, users will also be the first to receive software upgrades and new Google mobile apps as soon as they become available. The new Google phone has 16GB of internal storage and 512MB of RAM, as well as a gyroscope and VoIP support.

I’m a huge fan of the Android platform, love the smoothness of the OS and how much you can customize your phone to your liking. I bought the first Google phone after seeing the post on UpTill1 and decided to go for it. Since I have gone to Android I haven’t thought of any other phone, when I’m connected to all of Google’s services so easily and smoothly its fantastic. They have been talking about a new Google phone but taking it through the normal route of a carrier, and this time they are signing up with T-Mobile but you can still buy an unlocked phone through Google but I’m assuming for a higher price. The specifications of the phone are just a bit better, but then its released with the infamous Gingerbread platform. Now HTC will be coming out with Dual Processor Android phones in the first quarter of 2011 so that is even worth waiting for and I’m hoping that they will be using Android 2.3 as well. The Nexus S is a good step forward, I’m thinking about it, and also thinking about waiting for HTC’s new line up as I really do like their phones.

Link: Gizmodo

There are two things that I love taking with me when I’m traveling or even when I’m leaving the house and thats my iPad and my Moleskine, sometimes I can’t take both or the iPad is too bulky so I just end up taking my Moleskine with me. When I first heard about the case for the iPad from Moleskine I was excited, I honestly didn’t think that Moleskine would make it. I kept refreshing the Amazon page every week to check if it was available, the email notification didn’t work for me, and as soon as I saw it was already backordered, but I placed an order for two and received it after two weeks which isn’t too bad.

The Good

• Exceptional build quality, the Leather is very nice, just what your used to from Moleskine Notebooks
• Snug fit for the iPad, slips right in
• Functionally great, with the note book attached. Working on your iPad and taking notes couldn’t be easier
• When closed it looks great and professional, nice and clean
• The notebook is replaceable, next step is different kinds of notebook replacements from the plain to the lined
• Very reasonably priced for a case

The Bad:

• Left handers don’t have much luck, you have to flip the notebook
• It gets rather heavy and its really thick, more then I expected

Verdict:

• You will love the Moleskine iPad Folio Cover if you miss having a notebook iPad combo
• If you want a think case then this isn’t for you
• If you love Moleskines then this is for you

Overall I love it, and I’m going to enjoy carrying it with me when I need to take notes and have internet access.

Link: Amazon
Rating:

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I was walking in Piccadilly just going store to store and looking around, pretty much enjoying roaming around the area. I walked into HMV I stumbled upon the Samsung Galaxy Tab sitting on the counter in their little tech area. I wasn’t expecting to see it there, I kept seeing lots of reviews online and I thought to play around with it for a bit.

The Android Tablet is a very different then iPad, it feels more like an oversized phone then it does a tablet. It has a spot for a SIM Chip, so you can use it for connectivity same as the iPad, but its quite a bit smaller at 7inches. The screen was crisp and it was smooth when going from app to app, it feels like there is a lot to it and it can be tweaked. Looked like a very good tablet overall, it is said to be the best Android Tablet currently out there and some people might like it over the iPad, and I am one person who loves the Android platform but honestly speaking it is leagues behind the iPad in content and overall usage.

All the applications are developed for Android to run on the Android phones and this Tablet, Google is a bit lacking on the Market Direction and simplifying the users experience, the best part of the iPad is its simple application Market, but with Android you get lost and developers are getting lost with all the different iterations and different hardware. So it Tab is an excellent tablet but its lacking in Applications, and Developers haven’t taken advantage of the extra real-estate. For the first real Android Tablet, its excellent but they have a ways to go and Google really needs to step it up if they plan on developing Tablets, we want applications specifically for Tablets. I will stick to my Android phone as a phone, and keep my iPad for all my other needs for now.

Bang & Olufsen always comes up with the most interesting products, this dock is aimed to be amazing in design and specifications. The BeoSound 8 docking station features two 70w active speakers, each including two amps within, and the speakers themselves can be changed to fit different colors. Mainly made for the iPod, iPhone, and even fits the iPad, it has a USB flot and an Auxiliary-In for other products. It sells in the UK for around $1500, I’m assuming it probably sells cheaper in the US.

Bang & Olufsen has made a very nice looking product which seems it can be wall mounted, but with them its always a hit or miss with their products with specifications or design. I want deny they make quality products but they are also insanely priced. You can buy two to three iPads for the price of that dock, and there are a lot of docks currently out. Overall I bet it will sound great, but its too expensive for a dock.

Link: TheDesignBlog