Tag: review

Reviewing the BlackBerry Z30

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In short, high end specs that match the best Android has to offer, but the OS is insanely focused on messaging capabilities to the detriment of the rest of the platform. Step outside the focused remit of the BB10 developers and the Z30 stops being an effective smartphone. BlackBerry is now clearly playing in the niche category, but messaging and connectedness is a good niche to be in. If they can navigate their current corporate issues and still be able to develop the OS and handsets with limited runs in twelve months time, they’ll still be around inn a form

Why did Samsung skimp on the Galaxy S4 Mini battery?

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It might be a derivate of the regular Galaxy S4, but the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini is a nice size in my hand, does all the basic smartphoen tasks well, and burns through the battery far too quickly. A few extra millimetres of depth would not have spoiled the lines of the S4 Mini, but would have allowed a larger battery compartment to be placed into the design. FInding another 200-300mAh with slightly more volume would have made the S4 Mini a handset that can get through the day without the user having to make any compromises in how they

Why do writers who hate a topic get assigned that topic in the mainstream media?

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Toby Hadoke addresses some issues he has with the media’s coverage of television, actors, terminology, and ultimately about the lack of respect for the profession and the art: Revelling in ignorance about the medium you write about seems bizarre – especially when such ignorance is used to recommend somebody but, with a little implicit criticism, keep them in their place at the same time (and to what end – apart from to make the journalist look clever?). Looking clever feels terrific when you’re reviewing something, and it’s fantastic if you can enliven your prose with a witty barb or sparkly

Come on you apes, you wanna live forever (with a Lumia)?

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Halo finally reaches Windows Phone, and I’ve a monster review posted over on All About Windows Phone: It’s good. It’s bloody good. But there is room for improvement. The presentation, top down look, and slight 3D graphical look are all fine. The level design, small but perfect, works as well. I have a tiny issue with the control system, but it is easily played around. In that sense Halo works with no major compromises damaging the game. The lack of multiplayer is slightly upsetting, but not a huge mis-step in the grand scheme. The inclusion of freemium to try and

Reviewing Verizon’s Lumia 928

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Over on All About Windows Phone this week, I’m reviewing Nokia’s Lumia 928 Windows Phone. Exclusivly available on Verizon at the moment, it’s arguably Nokia’s current flagship (for, ooh, at least two weeks) and photographers are going to love the Xenon flash. BUt there’s more to the handset than the lighting options: In terms of design, there is very little difference between the Lumia 925 and the Lumia 928. We’ll be carrying on looking at the Lumia 925 in depth here on All About Windows Phone, but having spent some time with the Lumia 928, I’m really enjoying the handset.

The camera is next as I continue my review of the Samsung Galaxy S4

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Over on Forbes… To recap, I’m taking a narrative approach to reviewing the Samsung Galaxy S4. By using the device in day to day life, rather than a forensic examination of every single feature, I’m hoping to get a better feel of the device as a tool to be used every day by ‘normals’, rather than racing to meet a deadline and working down a bullet point list of new features… This week, after some surprisingly nice weather in Scotland, I’ve been out and about with the S4 and seeing how the camera performed.