I just discovered something that I’m guessing the world and his dog already knows about but despite possible embarrassment, I’m still going to write about it. I updated the firmware on my Xperia X10 yesterday (don’t get excited, it was just a maintenance release. I’m still waiting for the latest firmware to roll-out on unbranded X10s in Germany) and part of the procedure called for backing-up the applications using the free Astro File manager (good recommendation.) I had no idea that the file manager would simply create APKs on my […]

We’ve been following this one carefully.  Our review late last year indicated potential but it wasn’t just the Cortex A8 core that got us excited, it was the promised Android build too. We waited a long time but it looks like its finally arrived. Shanzai.com have the WiTS A81E [product information– Wits A81]  in their hands and are starting a three-part review. The feedback so far is that it’s “one of the best, if not the best Shanzai tablet.” Shanzai means ‘imitation’ or ‘copy’ but this one has been around […]

In our experience, Expansys delivery dates have never been the most reliable indicators of when a device is actually going to turn up so we’re not surprised that the Huawei S7 [specs, info] is now available at the end of July. At least it gives us time to assess the device through the reviews that are starting to come in from around the world. We’re looking for showstoppers at this stage and apart from the disappointment that the S7 has a resistive touchscreen like the Archos 5, we haven’t found […]

Two clamshell-style handheld PCs; Both offering great features, good battery life and usability at a price that would have been unheard of a few years ago. For the ultimate in thumb-able PCs, the Viliv N5 and UMID BZ have no competition. Sure, the Fujitsu UH900 and Sony P-Series look the same but these two are in a different sizing category and make a great alternatives to the OQO Model 02+ that never was. These two devices have the same adventurous spirit that the Psion 5 had all those years ago […]

For those looking for the perfect handheld PC for road-warrior and productivity work, the Viliv N5 has to be near the top of the list. Sliders and tablets are great but nothing beats the clamshell format for practicality in terms of usage and ruggedness. Very similar to the UMID BZ, the Viliv N5 offers a desktop operating system on a very efficient Intel Menlow platform with long battery life, an excellent video playback experience (up to 1080p tested successfully without any modifications) fast SSD and, in the version we’re testing […]

UMID Korea now officially has the mbook SE (Special Edition) listed on their site. The mbook SE is just like the mbook BZ [Portal page] that Chippy thoroughly covered, but it has twice the RAM at 1GB and replaces the BZ’s 1.2GHz Intel Atom Z515 CPU with the Atom 530 running at 1.6GHz. The wireless has also seen a slight augmentation; it now supports WiFi N, in addition to B/G. Aside from these differences (and a white paintjob instead of silver/black one), the BZ and the SE are identical, optical […]

As the epicenter of Intel’s work on a mobile operating systems shift slightly towards Europe, being here as an Intel Insider becomes a major advantage. On Tuesday I had the pleasure of attending a tweet-up with Josh Bancroft in Munich and today, we’re the recipients of some live images of MeeGo 1.1 and the handset UX running on an Intel-based (Moorestown) phone from Aava. The team responsible for some of the technical aspects of MeeGo and mobile platforms in Europe is obviously working hard and we look forward to meeting […]

I’ve long been a fan of the Pixel Qi screen technology, its ability to work in direct sunlight is something us tech folk have been waiting on for a long time. At Computex 2010 Pixel Qi showed us the technology compared with a Apple iPad and the results are stunning. JKK also got some time with the people at Pixel Qi to show us more how the technology works and the difference it makes to outdoor visibility. Well we no-longer have to dream of working outdoors in the sun as […]