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Dell Streak on AT&T review

by Stefan Etienne on 22. Aug, 2010 in AT&T, Android, Dell, Featured, Handsets, Reviews, Tablets

The Dell Streak — early name the Dell Mini 5 — has had its release with a ton of press coverage. One reason being that it was Dell’s first go at an Android tablet. Two, for the sake of it, it is an actually good looking Android tablet. A 5-inch WVGA screen with Gorilla Glass, 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 5 megapixel camera on the back with a VGA front-facing, Wi-Fi/3G HSPA+/Bluetooth combo, a user-replaceable battery, along with a 16GB microSD card in our review unit which we tortured with tests for over the course of a week.

So how did the 5-inch Dell Streak Android 1.6 tablet fare?

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Dell Streak unboxing!

by Stefan Etienne on 16. Aug, 2010 in AT&T, Android, Dell, Featured, Handsets, Tablets

So the Dell Streak arrived in the LaptopMemo office today, a week late.

At least it’s finally here, and so far I have this to say about it: it’ll struggle to find its place, much like Apple’s iPad, but it’s still a winner. So far the 1GHz Snapdragon never has given me a single pout, freeze, or whatever you’d want to call “lag”. The front-facing camera is VGA quality, but it’s still a front-facing camera (hey iPad!), the 5 megapixel on the back could’ve been better, and Android 1.6 doesn’t allow all the features of 2.2 (duh!), but there’s still great multitouch in the browser (it’s freaky fast), Google Maps Navigation, and the Android 1.6 version of Android Market.

The custom Dell UI is actually one of the few pleasant custom skins I’ve seen on Android, besides HTC’s Sense. Expect the review to come up later this week, complete with video and the full review.

For now, check out the unboxing pics, after the cut!

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Motorola DROID 2 First Impressions

by Stefan Etienne on 13. Aug, 2010 in Android, Featured, Handsets, Motorola, Verizon

So the Motorola DROID was the slab of rock that turned into a beautiful scuplture, forever stamping Android into the realm of successful smartphones, forever .This time, Motorola has challenged itself, and released the DROID 2. And honestly, it’s set on the right path:

The overall rounded body gives better contour and feel.
The speed offered by the new 1 GHz processor is easily recognizable.
The MOTOBLUR UI seen on the DROID X with Android 2.2 is very cool.
The slide-out QWERTY has the same feel as on the Droid 1 — except a trillion times more practical and better.
It still remains uber-geek, and uber-cool, even for those new to technology.

According to the Verizon rep (who is now an official ninja for LaptopMemo now) besides some VZW secrets I’ll share with all of you later this week, the DROID 2 has been selling. As he said “people are buying it a lot”. Of course that’s not including my favorite thing – numbers, but he’s a Verizon ninja, so let’s take his word for it. Check out the gallery below for shots of the DROID 2!

Motorola DROID 2 Gallery

Editor’s note: I must say this: Drooooiiid.

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Panasonic Lumix G10 Review: Hello, Micro Four Thirds

by Stefan Etienne on 20. Jul, 2010 in Cameras, Featured, Hardware, Panasonic, Reviews

The Micro Four Thirds category of cameras, essentially taking the power and photo-taking ability of a 2 pound DSLR and cramming into the size of a point-and-shoot camera, albeit with the same lens size. In the Panasonic Lumix G10′s case, its size is more mini-DSLR than Micro Four Thirds (i.e Olympus E-PL1 or Sony NEX-3) but honestly, for $600 bucks, who cares!? Read on, because the G10 is more than a solid digital camera. It’s awesome.

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Stefan Etienne gets on your TV, starts talking tech (video!)

by Stefan Etienne on 17. Jul, 2010 in Awesome, Featured, Internet

Well, well, now that I finally have my hands-on the TV station’s media card, they kindly allowed me to upload the interview on the telly to YouTube, where millions (or thousands can see it on LaptopMemo’s channel). Here, in my first TV interview I talk techno-babble about the M11x, and the Nikon D5000 also appears; its 2-pound wrath breaking my neck. Just for FYI: the interview was shot by my awesome Dad, in Central Park (TV station agreed to him shooting it).

So sit back, and watch with a extra-small bag of popcorn. Now hopefully you guys can crank it up to 1080p!

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Apple Says The iPhone 4 Reception Issues Are Caused By An Incorrect Signal Reading

by Stefan Etienne on 02. Jul, 2010 in AT&T, Apple, Did You Know?, Featured, Handsets, Strange

So, in the latest part on Apple’s take of the iPhone 4′s ability to not get calls and use data due to the faulty antenna issue when it gets into contact with human flesh, they’re claiming that the issue is simply an incorrect signal reading, which would be a possible explanation to the “dramatic drop in [signal] bars”. So far, they’re promising that software update will be the answer, and they fix it. As they say in Futurama, “Fixitfixitfixitfixitfixit”!

Apple’s letter to iPhone4 users about this issue is after the break.

Via: Apple

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LaptopMemo Giveaway: Another $10 iTunes Gift Card

by Stefan Etienne on 29. Jun, 2010 in Apple, Featured

So, it’s another giveaway you say? It’s for another $10 iTunes gift card, and since 1.7 million people just bought iPhone 4s in the last 4 days, I think you’d really want it. The same rules apply people:

It’ll run till Saturday, July 3rd
You have to leave a comment with a valid email address, telling us why you think you should get the gift card
The winner will be picked at random
One entry per person, multiple entries will disqualify you
Your email address will only be used to contact you with the card’s details
You’ll have to be in the U.S of A (that’s what the card says anyways)

Good luck!

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This Week On LaptopMemo: We Go On Another Trip, and iPhone 4 Edition

by Stefan Etienne on 27. Jun, 2010 in Featured, News, Roundups

So I’ll be heading off from MIA to New Jersey this June 30th, at around 2 PM. Don’t worry, you’ll get updates of my journey once I’m at the airport and such. Expect three (or four) new reviews to show up, and more exciting stuff, like those TV interviews I promised to post up for you guys. In the meantime, this week’s mobile news was as noisy with the iPhone 4 as the vuvuzelas at the World Cup.

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Before iPhone 4 Morning: At The Apple Store In Lincoln Road!

by Stefan Etienne on 24. Jun, 2010 in Apple, Exclusive, Featured, Handsets, News

What’s a short visit to South Beach (more preferably Lincoln Road) without a stop at the Apple Store, pre-iPhone 4 madness? After hopefully scoring a morning interview at the venue with Channel 7, I proceeded to strut the Pentax K-x’s stuff and begin a small photo rampage that will appear in future stories, as well as some extra time with the iPad (all iPhone 3GS units were replaced with iOS 4 models). There was also a large crown hustled behind (in their tents or on the floor) and all around me while the security guards were playing security (read: guards) and playing with iPads (read:at the same time). Throughout the hot 89 degree weather and practical chaos, there was one particular Apple fan (I’ll call him Miami Apple Fanboy) who shouted “7:00 AM!” to one of the guards. As you dear readers might already know, the iPhone 4 launch starts at 7AM Eastern tomorrow. Check out the gallery for some shots, and hit up the line break for some video!

Apple Store Lincoln Road – Pre-iPhone 4 Launch!

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Motorola DROID Review: A Look Back At The First Droid

by Stefan Etienne on 22. Jun, 2010 in Android, Featured, Handsets, Motorola, Reviews

The Motorola Droid is going to be succeeded. We know it is. Motorola does, as do Verizon and Adobe (look at Moto’s and VZW’s sites). And hence, the original Droid that so many millions own will be out of date, until its FroYo 2.2 update nears. In fact, the official announcement of “the next generation of Droid” is tomorrow, so let’s go over a quick look at what the Droid was, and what it truely is.

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