Microsoft Surface 2: Will Windows Finally Make a Jump Into the Tablet World?

When Microsoft released the first version of the surface it was overpriced, lacked battery life and the rt model lacked complete functionality. The first surface pro had great potential but just couldn't complete with the cheaper windows 8 competitors. This newest surface 2 will have 75% improved battery performance, a newly designed hinge(the old one wasn't bad) and an updated processor. If they release another rt model it must be cheap to go after the big dogs but everyone is keeping an eye on the surface 2 pro model. This model will be running full Windows 8.1 OS and will be an incredible tablet if they can get their pricing right. Once this is released I'd check it out if you're in the market for a complete tablet experience.

Apple Iphone 5c and 5s: A Step Behind the Rest

Well the Apple keynote was today and to everyone's expectations nothing very impressive was presented. The newest, top of the line Iphone 5s is already outdated when looking at it's competition. Improving their processor and adding a sensor for unlocking isn't very new but they're banking on the sheeple to fall into place as usual. The Iphone 5c on the other hand is a very good move by Apple. By offering a cheaper model with the current operating system they can attract people who weren't willing to shell out the dough for their usually expensive new device. If you're looking for a cheap phone that is easy to use go with the 5c and if you don't like it you can always sell it for an Android or Windows Phone. Good luck!

Nokia Lumia 1020: Prediction

The world has yet to see the Windows Phone come out of it's shell. Even though this platform isn't taken very seriously, the release of the Nokia Lumia 1020 might just be its coming out party. A phone with a 41 megapixel camera (38 mp actual) will attract many people from the Android and ios systems. I think that this phone will make a name for the Windows Phone and once people see how elegant this operating system is they'll become the voice necessary for future sales. Check this bad boy out! 

Nokia Lumia 920: Full Review

Well, I've been using the Nokia Lumia 920 for a few months now and here are some features that I find extremely impressive and others that make me wonder why Nokia went the way they did.

The Good: 
Battery life - The battery life on this phone is quite good. Many of the initial reviews said they were having problems with consistent charge but i listen to music roughly 1-3 hours a day through my Bluetooth headphones and am pretty heavy on messaging and data. This phone can hold a solid 2 day charge on moderate usage days and 3 days on light usage. Very good battery performance 9/10

Reception/Data Speed - 4G LTE is the way to go.... It's blistering fast.... I've been doing a few speed tests throughout the month in different locations around the city of Chicago and this phone/At&t's network are giving me fantastic speeds consistently. 10/10

External Speakers - This thing is loud, it's loud but it's also very clear. I have never heard a phone that can get as loud as the 920 and still sound good. 10/10

Processor/Screen/Design - I think that this phone is very well designed, it can easily handle being dropped, and its all that you could ask hardware-wise but I'll get to the camera a little later... 7/10

The Bad:
Disclaimer: When I say bad I just mean that I've had some slight issue I'm not saying these things are a deal breaker.
Camera - I have noticed that the camera is very picky when it comes to taking close ups, as well as, when there is movement. Taking pictures of playful kittens running around is almost impossible. In order to take a picture of something a few inches away you MUST change the camera settings to close up mode and even then its a crapshoot. That being said, this camera is very capable of taking beautiful pictures and I think its worth the hassle of taking a couple more pictures to getting that perfect shot. 6/10

Outer casing - The feel of this phone is very nice and comfortable, but i have noticed that if your hand become fairly dry the phone has the tendency to slide right out if you're not careful. Also, don't ever plan on setting it on a non grip surface that's on an angle, IT WILL SLIDE. 6/10

OVERALL
This is a great phone, the best I've ever had. If you're looking for a nice device that can do anything you would want a smartphone to do this is the way to go.

Nokia Lumia 920: First Impressions

I've finally upgraded from my Samsung Focus to a Nokia Lumia 920 and IT ROCKS MY SOCKS. I've been using it for about 3 weeks now and all is can say its a beast. This device is extremely zippy and the battery life is phenomenal. My typical daily use it fairly heavy and this phone will hold charge for at least 2 days, I've gone 3 with still battery left. The windows phone experience has vastly improved since the first gen phones and I'm very happy with the current experience. I feel it's still too early to have a complete assessment of this device but as of now this is looking like the phone to have.

Microsoft Surface / Windows 8 RT

This last week I was able to get my hands on the new Microsoft Surface for a bit and boy was I impressed. Being a Microsoft fan I had pretty high expectations for their new tablet and I wasn't disappointed. Their design is quite economical and gives a feel of productivity. The RT version of windows 8 was complete and function quite smoothly, but I will say that I'm disappointed that it cannot run typical programs, though I completely understand there direction for a simple, smooth, responsive, workhorse tablet. If you want the tablet that will have the entire Windows 8 features you'll unfortunately have to wait for the Surface Pro that will have an Intel i5, which should provide enough speed for any user. The only thing holding me back from purchasing a Surface right this moment is that Microsoft will most likely drop the price once the Pro model is released so just wait a couple months you impatient bastards! Anyway, this tablet has a strong productivity vibe so if you're looking for a tablet that can edit documents, play games, and get work done with might just be the device for you. Check it out!

This picture shows the Surface with its attachable keyboard, it uses magnets for a secure connection, no plugs. Also notice the back stand which is built into the tablet. Check out the commercial and an official review courtesy of Engadget.

Windows 8 Developer Preview VS Consumer Preview

I've been using the developers preview for a few months and I finally upgraded to the consumer preview. I have to say that I am quite impressed. There are a few more functions that have been added yet it still has the same familiar feel of the developers preview. My overall boot time has increased slightly yet overall performance and "smoothness" has greatly improved. I'm getting even more excited for the release of the official Windows 8 platform and recommend you check out the consumer preview for a test run.

Nokia Lumia 900

So are you looking for the ultimate Windows phone? Well look no further, because you can get the Nokia Lumia 900 for $99 or FREE if you are an At&t customer. This phone boasts a 4.3 inch AMOLED screen, 8MP primary camera, 1MP front-facing camera, 1.4 GHz processor, 16GB storage and excellent battery life. Comparing this to other Windows Phones this is definitely one of my top picks and I just might pick one up for myself. Check this phone out and you will not be disappointed!

Windows Phone 7.5 update MANGO

The Windows Phone started off with a simple OS to begin with that was fast, smooth and had little to no hiccups. Their newest update 7.5(code named Mango)  is nothing less than incredible. There are a ton of new features that I have been finding than are quite impressive. Microsoft has made hands free texting very simple and accurate, which is nice if you have a Bluetooth headset because you don't even have to take the phone out of your pocket to read (hear), reply and send text messages. In my experience battery life has been unaffected and heavy multitasking hasn't affected performance. This update quite good and if you have a Windows Phone I highly recommend updating.

Coming soon: Ubuntu 11.10, Windows Phone Mango, Iphone 4s and iOS 5.

Within the coming weeks I plan on telling you about Ubuntu 11.10, my experience with the newest windows phone update (Mango), and I'll give you my feedback on the new Iphone 4s/ iOS 5 and whether or not you should just wait for the Iphone 5. Also, this month two very influential people died, Dennis Ritchie and Steve Jobs. I'll just leave these picture below instead of ranting.

Hp Touchsmart Tx2, personal experience with the Touchsmart series

These last two weeks I've been using a Hp Touchsmart Tx2 as my primary laptop with Windows Developer Preview and I have to say I am very impressed. This particular tablet PC has a 30gb SSD(this isn't the original drive, you'll have to wait awhile before they make SSD's the standard but I would definitely recommend upgrading to one) and a boot time of 10 seconds. I've been using Microsoft Office Onenote 2010 for all my classes and taking notes is a dream, after using this for two weeks I honestly don't think I'll be able to go back to the standard "non-touch" laptop. As soon as the developers preview was released I wanted to get a tablet to truly test this new, touch friendly OS and it just so happened that my friends was looking to sell his Tx2. Getting into the tablet PC world can be a bit pricey but lucky I was able to find one for cheap. I plan on using this much more intensely soon and just wanted to give a little update of the Preview.

My experience with Windows Developer Preview (Windows 8)

The day the Developers Preview was released I couldn't decide whether to put it on my main laptop or my netbook... or both.. I decided to go with my Hp Compaq 6820s which at the time was dual booted with Windows 7 and Ubuntu 11.04. I deleted all partitions besides my main Windows 7 partition and did a clean install of Windows 8. My computer literally boots in 15 seconds.... If I had a ssd in it I wouldn't be surprised at all if it boot in under 10 seconds, that's how fast it is. So besides the fast boot time, I've used this developers preview for a solid 15 hours and have yet to have a single hiccup, I love it. The integration between the normal desktop and what they call the Metro UI is very friendly, especially if you have a tablet PC. If you have been debating on whether to try this out or wait for the official beta, here's my opinion. DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL NOW! I installed the x86 version but I'm honestly considering buying a tablet PC just because of this OS. I'll keep you updated with my experience but as of now I won't be using anything else.

Motorola MOTOROKR S305 Bluetooth stereo headphones

The first product I figured I'd review that wasn't a smart phone would have to be my Motorola S305 Bluetooth headphones. I've owned these for over 2 years now and I literally use them on a daily basis. Of all the different gadgets I have purchased, this is by far the best investment I have ever made. Before becoming a Bluetooth lover, I was like most people using the standard in-ear headphones and was extremely worried about the sound quality, battery life and clarity(static interference) of a wireless stereo headsets on the market. One day I was running on the treadmill and my headphone wire got caught on something and ripped the $100 headphones(they were an over-ear model) from my head causing them to break in half. Immediately after that happened, I walked to my computer, searched the different Bluetooth stereo headphones and bought these. These Bluetooth headphones are very cheap compared to the many other brands but I have yet to have a single complaint with these. The audio quality is very good for most music but it lacks a little in the bass region, so don't expect to listen to Young Jeezy and have the same quality as the subs in your car. I listen to a wide variety of music and I am very impressed with the quality for these wireless headphones. The battery life on these is quite good with roughly 6 hours of listening to music and about 6.5 hours talking on the phone. Yes, these headphones also have a built-in microphone so while you're going on a run and someone calls, all you have to do is push a button on the right side of the headphone and you can talk while you run. The headphones also have volume buttons, an on/off button and next/previous track buttons. I can't tell you how many times I would be walking down the street listening to music and get a call. It's as simple as pushing a button and you're talking to said caller, plus when the call is finished the music resumes right where it left off. It almost impossible for me to write down all the reasons I love these headphones but I'll just leave this food for thought. You can get these headphones for around $40. How much do those Bose/Beats you want cost? At least 5-10 times that? And what happens when the headphone cord gets caught on a door handle and rips the wire out? I can walk around the house with no phone/computer by me and these just keep going. With a range of over 30ft the benefits of having these headphones just keep going. If you have ever though about getting Bluetooth headphones this is the place to start. They will sync with anything that has Bluetooth(which is literally every smart phone there is(Iphones, Windows phones, Android phones, Blackberrys and all others) and the majority of modern computers/laptops/tablets). I GUARANTEE you will not be disappointed with these. The Motorola MOTOROKR S305 Wireless Bluetooth Stereo Headphones get an A++ rating from me.

The Great Smartphone OS Shootout: Windows, Apple, and Android; What Should You get?

Now that smartphones are available for basically every provider, everyone wants to have the newest device with the latest operating system. Unfortunately, many people look at the phone's specifications before they look at the system it runs on. In my opinion, pretty much every "smartphone" produced this year has specs that will suit anyone's normal phone use and this is why choosing a phone with a comfortable OS is very important. Here is a simple guideline that will help you get started:

If you like Windows 7, you will most likely want a Windows Phone 7.

If you like Apple OS X Lion (or other versions), you will most likely want to get an Iphone 4 (or 3gs)

If you like Linux, you will most likely want an android phone.

To me it's as simple as that. Currently, both my laptops are dual booted with Windows 7 and Ubuntu but phone wise I chose a Samsung Focus and I am extremely satisfied.

Also, just something to remember if you don't have much experience with these computer operating systems is that Apple usually has a "locked" OS, which means you don't have many customization options. Windows gives you a little more freedom but not as much as Android systems.

If you have any questions I will be more than willing to give my 2 cents just write a comment.

HTC Arrive

Just like the Samsung Focus, the HTC Arrive is another Windows Phone 7 device but what makes this phone better than the others is its slide-out QWERTY keyboard. My first Windows Mobile phone was a HTC Touch Pro2 which initially turned me into a HTC lover and we can see HTC is still making an impact in the newest smartphone markets. This phone offers superb battery life, screen quality and memory. It also has a 5MP camera and built-in GPS. For a Sprint customer looking for a new phone, this is the definite choice. Even if you're with another provider and your contract is up, maybe you should consider switching so you can get you're hands on this beastly smartphone.

Samsung Epic 4G

The Samsung Epic 4G. For the person who doesn't like the Windows or Apple platforms, this is clearly the best option. This phone boasts a huge 4-inch super AMOLED display and 16gb of storage(upgradeable to 32gb). With its speedy processor, it runs Android 2.1 without any hiccups so you won't have to worry about any "lag" or freezing. I would definitely recommend this phone to anyone looking for an easy to use interface without losing any features you would otherwise get from the other "tech savvy" smartphones.

Apple Iphone 3GS

The Apple Iphone 3GS was the first phone from Apple that made an impression in my eyes. The predecessors in the Iphone family lacked a fast processor, quality camera, significant memory and overall functionality. Everything that the 3G lacked, the 3GS made up for its older brothers imperfections. Especially now, with the 3GS only being $50, I would recommend this phone to anyone looking for a smartphone that is very easy to use. What I think makes the 3GS a good phone is that people with little experience can operate this phone quite easily because of Apple's easy to use interface. I would honestly stay away from the Iphone 4 if you haven't owned a smartphone before simply because of the price difference and the exact same software is factory loaded on both phones, so you're not missing any of the new features of the newest Iphone.

Comming soon: The Iphone 4/5 news and the shootout between the Windows Phone 7 and IOS 4.

Samsung Focus, Windows Phone 7

I've been using a Samsung Focus for almost a year now and I have to say I'm never going back. I've always been a fan of the Windows mobile interface even back to 6.1 but this phone takes the cake.

One of my favorite features of this phone is the built in Zune player. I've never used the Zune media player before this phone and even though I don't like the Computer interface I think the phone's Zune player is far superior to the Apple Iphone's player. The Focus takes beautiful pictures with it's 5MP camera and battery last all day browsing the web, sending texts and taking pictures. I would suggest this phone to anyone looking into buying a smartphone and I promise you will not be disappointed.