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Wednesday 27 November 2013
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Pros
Improved controls. Comfortable to hold and type on.
- Cons Cheesy styling. Poor voice quality. Non-standard headphone jack. Awful camera. No 3G.
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Bottom Line
The Pantech Jest 2 on Verizon Wireless is no longer a bad joke like the first model, but it's still not appealing unless your needs are very modest.
The original Pantech Jest (2 stars) wasn't all that funny, and unfortunately the new Jest 2 isn't much of an improvement. It swaps the first version's fatally flawed touchpad for a proper five-way control pad, and it's now a true world phone as well. If you want something small for voice calls and frequent texting, it's only a decent, middling choice now. Aside from its odd shape, this cell phone still doesn't stand out in any way.
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Design, Controls, and Voice Quality
The Jest 2 looks a lot like the original version, which isn't a great thing at all, but at least it's comfortable to use. It measures a squat 3.7 by 2.6 by 0.6 inches (HWD) and weighs 4.1 ounces. The smooth, glossy plastic and rounded edges make it especially easy to slip the Jest into a pants pocket or purse, while the rubberized back panel adds comfort during long phone calls. The 2.4-inch, 320-by-240-pixel LCD looks bright and colorful.
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The controls are a vast improvement over the last model, with a regular five-way control pad front and center and two hardware function keys in lieu of finicky capacitive buttons. Pantech also moved the four main function keys down a bit, and blended them into a single button bar with a textured surface that's easy to use one-handed. Pantech left the original keyboard largely intact, although the new one has more attractive, metallic red accents and brighter backlighting, which looks sharp.
Unlike the first model, the Pantech Jest 2 is a real globetrotter, with dual-band 1xRTT (850/1900 MHz) and quad-band EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) support for calls made overseas. But despite the 3G/CDMA sticker on the side, the Jest 2 is squarely a 2G-only device. There's no Wi-Fi either, but feature phones usually don't have Wi-Fi.
Voice quality was pretty poor, with a honking, midrangey sound in the earpiece that was uncomfortable to listen to. Transmissions through the microphone sounded thin and brittle, with plenty of street noise filtering through. Reception was average. Calls sounded fine through an Aliph Jawbone Era Bluetooth headset ($129, 4 stars) and the Nuance-powered voice dialing worked well over Bluetooth. The speakerphone sounded a bit harsh but had decent gain, if not quite enough for use outdoors. Compared with the first version, battery life fell almost an hour to 5 hours and 57 minutes of talk time, but this is still pretty good.
User Interface, Apps, and Multimedia
This is really just a voice call and texting phone, but we'll dive in and talk about its other features just for completion's sake. The home screen's animated wallpaper is cute. The main menu consists of nine icons arranged in a grid pattern. Verizon finally dropped its ridiculous $5-per-month charge for e-mail, and now gives you free access as part of the $10 data plan (which also lets you browse the Web). One nice bonus: You get Opera Mini as the default browser. Opera's server side compression helps with delivering Web pages more quickly, though there's only so much you can do on 2G; stick with WAP sites and it works well enough. You also get voice-enabled, turn-by-turn GPS directions with VZ Navigator for an additional $10 per month.
The Jest 2 still isn't much of a multimedia phone, though. The non-standard 2.5mm headphone jack makes finding decent sounding earbuds virtually impossible. There's just 44MB of free internal memory—bizarre, since the original version had almost a gigabyte free. At least the Jest 2 recognized all tracks on my 32GB SanDisk microSD card, not just the ones in a specific folder. Music tracks sounded clear and bright through Plantronics BackBeat Go Bluetooth headphones ($79, 4 stars), and I heard none of the dropouts that plagued the first Pantech Jest. Standalone video playback is out, though.
Camera and Conclusions
The 2-megapixel camera has no flash or auto-focus, and is, to put it bluntly, a total disaster. There's about a second of delay between when you hear the shutter sound and when the photo is actually taken, meaning you'll have to sit perfectly still or risk blurring the result. Even when I did sit still, photos had plenty of color noise and were never completely sharp. The video recorder is also completely useless, thanks to its maximum 176-by-144-pixel video size, which is barely larger than the resolution of an iPhone app icon. There's no excuse for this on a phone today, even a free one, especially since plenty of low-end devices with 1.3-megapixel cameras snap usable photos.
Feature phones are a tough sell to begin with these days, thanks to steadily dropping smartphone prices. The Jest 2 acquits itself better than the first model, but just barely. It's a decent buy if you want a free phone for lots of texting and voice calls, and you have a separate point-and-shoot camera and iPod. Another good texting alternative is the LG Cosmos 2 (Free, 3 stars), with its better voice quality, more traditional dimensions, roomier horizontal QWERTY keyboard, and second numeric keypad. Our favorite feature phone on Verizon Wireless remains the admittedly expensive Casio G'zOne Ravine 2 ($199.99, 4 stars), which offers stellar voice quality and stands up to plenty of abuse, although it's not a texting phone like the Jest 2.
Benchmarks
Continuous talk time: 5 hours 57 minutes
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Friday 22 November 2013
Apple seeds seventh OS X Mountain Lion beta to developers
Continuing with its one-week beta release cycle, Apple on Wednesday seeded the latest version of its forthcoming OS X 10.8.5 Mountain Lion maintenance update, the seventh such release since the first beta was pushed out in June.
The most recent build, dubbed 12F30, contains no known issues and Apple asks developers to concentrate on the same areas as the previous beta version, people familiar with the release said. As with past versions, the latest build requests developers test Wi-Fi and graphics specifically.
Alongside the upcoming Mountain Lion update, Apple is currently testing OS X 10.9 Mavericks and iOS 7 ahead of expected launches this fall. While the releases haven't revealed much in the way of new features, a line of code discovered in the latest iOS seed pointed to a "Biometric Kit," the first substantial evidence that the next-generation iPhone will include a fingerprint sensor.
Developers can download Wednesday's build via Software Update or Apple's developer portal.
The most recent build, dubbed 12F30, contains no known issues and Apple asks developers to concentrate on the same areas as the previous beta version, people familiar with the release said. As with past versions, the latest build requests developers test Wi-Fi and graphics specifically.
Alongside the upcoming Mountain Lion update, Apple is currently testing OS X 10.9 Mavericks and iOS 7 ahead of expected launches this fall. While the releases haven't revealed much in the way of new features, a line of code discovered in the latest iOS seed pointed to a "Biometric Kit," the first substantial evidence that the next-generation iPhone will include a fingerprint sensor.
Developers can download Wednesday's build via Software Update or Apple's developer portal.
Wednesday 20 November 2013
iPad 5 fascia picture appears online
iPad 5 fascia leak
A picture of what appear to be an iPad Air fascia have emerged online, revealing the upcoming Apple slate will greatly resemble the iPad mini.
If the fascia is accurate, the fifth generation of the Apple’s 9.7-inch slate could feature the same design touches as the iPad mini and iPhone 5 with greatly reduced bezel.
Such a bezel reduction could even mean that the iPad 5 could use a larger screen size, perhaps upping the current 9.7-inch display to the full 10-inches or larger, akin to the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1.
The photo has appeared via French blog Nowhereelse, which has been a fairly reliable rumour monger thus far, so we could be looking at the new iPad 5 design.
iPad 5 Rumours
Online rumours have often suggested that the iPad 5 will come sporting a revamped design and form factor, with most suggesting the tablet will mimic the design features of the iPad mini, including the aforementioned narrower bezel, redesigned speakers and relocated microphone.
Following in the design footsteps of the iPad mini and iPhone 5, the iPad 5 should wield the same brushed metal finish on the rear of the device.
Along with the iPhone 5S and iPad mini 2, the iPad 5 could be one of the first Apple devices to come pre-installed with iOS 7. The fifth-generation Apple tablet could also pack an IGZO screen panel for employing a lower-capacity battery unit without loss of stamina.
Apple’s A6X chip processor currently used in the iPad 4 should also get a performance boost, along with a higher-resolution camera and sharper graphics than its predecessors.
The rumour mill has tipped an iPad 5 release date to lie somewhere in September, which would be exactly a year after the iPad 4 release, tying in with Apple’s usual annual launch schedule.
Via: Pocket-Lint
Wednesday 13 November 2013
LG Optimus F7 and F5 picture leak ahead of MWC unveil
LG Optimus F7 and LG Optimus F5
Pictures of the new LG Optimus F7 and LG Optimus F5 have leaked ahead of an official unveiling at Mobile World Congress (MWC) later this month.
LG is said to be announcing several new handsets at MWC next week and it looks like two of them are set to be the LG Optimus F7 and LG Optimus F5.
The pictures were posted on Twitter by EV Leaks, and show the LG Optimus F7 as a slightly larger handset with a physical home button and white finish. The smaller LG Optimus F5 handset has a smaller screen, but lacks the physical home button and sports a silver finish.
From the pictures, it seems the handsets both have a metallic band winding around their bodies, but from the angle it is still fairly hard to tell what the material the handsets will be made from.
As this is first we’ve seen of the LG F-series handsets we have yet to hear of what specs the duo will be wielding. However, with expected hands-on time available at MWC, LG fans won’t have long to wait before LG reveals what’s under the hood of the LG Optimus F7 and LG Optimus F5.
LG revealed the LG Optimus Pro earlier this month, featuring a 5.5-inch Full 1080p HD display and a cutting edge 1.7GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 CPU processor.
Also revealed were three handsets part of the entry level LG Optimus L-series II: the LG Optimus L7 II, LG Optimus L5 II and LG Optimus L3 II complete with specs for the top of the range LG Optimus L7 II. The highest-spec LG Optimus L-series II handset will have a 4.3-inch 800 x 480 IPS display and a 1GHz dual-core Qualcomm processor with 768MB of RAM. It will also have an 8-megapixel camera in the rear.
More details on the upcoming LG handsets will be revealed at MWC at their event on February 25.
Are you excited to see the full range of new LG handsets? Do you think LG have any chance of catching up with market leading handsets from Samsung and Apple? Let us know at theTrusted Reviews Facebook and Twitter pages or the comments section below.
Monday 11 November 2013
Dell profits drop 72 per cent amid buyout row
Dell reported a 72 per cent drop in earnings in its Q2 2013 financial report, with the PC maker heavily engaged in a takeover row.
Although earnings per share were slightly ahead of expectations at $0.25 (£0.16) and sales stand at $14.5 billion (£9.3 billion), Dell’s net profits fell 72 per cent from the figures recorded for the same quarter in 2012.
PC sales amounted to $9.5 million (£6.1 million), dropping 5 per cent from last year.
“In a challenging environment, we remain committed to our strategy and our customers”, said Brian Gladden, Dell CFO.
Currently the world’s third largest PC manufacturer, Dell was originally held up as a model of product-chain innovation, but has been resorting to price cuts to shift units. It was also late to enter the enterprise computing market, which hasn’t helped the company’s figures either.
“It was predictably bad. It’s not a big surprise that margins compressed to the degree that they did, when they’re prioritising sales volume over profitability,” said Carr Lanphier, Morningstar analyst. “You have to offset that uncertainly somehow.”
Michael Dell, the company’s founding CEO and activist investor Carl Icahn are currently engaged in a heated row over the future of the company. Dell is proposing to make the company private with a $25 million buyout plan, but Icahn, a leading shareholder, believes that price tag is too low.
The Q2 financial report figures may well back up Dell’s argument that a $13.75 per share offer, plus a 13 per cent dividend is more than ample for the company to go private.
“They can’t compete on a level playing field when you have a wrestling match over the future of the company,” added Lanphier.
The fight between Icahn and Dell will be moved to the courtroom in the coming weeks, with a shareholder vote on the plan taking place September 12.
Next, read our pick of the best Windows 8 laptops, tablets, convertibles and PCs.
Wednesday 6 November 2013
Major Windows Phone 8 fixes won’t arrive until 2014
Windows Phone 8
Windows Phone 8 users will not receive the major “Blue” update until early 2014, according to sources close to Microsoft.
Despite Microsoft’s latest Windows Phone 8 update launching imminently, “sources familiar with Microsoft’s Windows Phone plans” say that the significant WP8 changes aren’t due until next year.
Microsoft is so focused on the Windows Phone Blue update that it is only releasing incremental modifications in the Windows Phone 8 updates rather than introducing significant changes.
The latest update due to roll out shortly is called General Distribution Release 2 (GDR2), which doesn’t scream new and exciting updates.
It will bring fixes to Xbox Music metadata, a new Data Sense app for all network providers, the option to set a Lens app as the default camera app and bring back the FM radio feature.
There are a few other minor tweaks, but nothing that is going to jump out as a new feature for the user, which is sad seeing as the WP8 platform has now been out for eight months.
Microsoft could add Blue features to WP8 later this year in a GDR3 update including a rotation lock option, a useful addition to WP8 devices like the Nokia Lumia 920.
Windows Phone Blue update will bring major updates to Windows Phone 8 devices, such as a much anticipated Windows notification centre, improved multitasking functionality, and big changes to pre-installed WP8 apps.
The official word from Microsoft on major Windows Phone updates is mixed. The software giant said it is preparing what it is calling a feature pack update in the first months of 2014, which will contain VPN support and enterprise improvements.
As for other additions, Microsoft is staying mum.
For desktop and tablets, Microsoft has unveiled Windows 8.1, which introduces a host of big changes and features for users, including the return of the Start button.
Next read our Windows Phone 8 tips and tricks.
Via: The Verge
Monday 4 November 2013
Apple reportedly cuts iPhone 5C orders
iPhone 5C
Apple is said to be cutting its iPhone 5C orders amidst less than stellar demand for the mid-range smartphone.
There have been numerous reports of the iPhone 5C's failure to impress consumers since its launch a month ago. Just last week we reported that analysts were slashing their sales predictions for the 5C, with shipments today said to be a third lower than expected.
Now sources are claiming that Apple itself has cut its supply orders for the iPhone 5C. According to the Wall Street Journal, Pegatron Corp. has been asked to reduce assembly quotas of the plastic smartphone by less than 20 percent, while Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. has done so by as much as a third.
It's been speculated that this weak demand for the iPhone 5C is down to its uncompetitive price. Most were expecting the phone to be Apple's first affordable iPhone, potentially selling for less than £300.
In the event, its £469 starting point makes it only slightly cheaper than the considerably more capable iPhone 5S at £549.
Speaking of which, the fortunes of Apple's premium smartphone option are said to be in stark contrast to the iPhone 5C. The report claims that Apple has actually raised orders for the iPhone 5S in the fourth quarter following strong demand and widespread shortages.
Of course, such supply chain adjustments are common in the smartphone industry, but it's this contrast between iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S supply that's most telling.
Apple sold nine million of its new iPhones in their first weekend on sale, but it has been suggested by numerous sources that the premium iPhone 5S made up the vast majority of that number.
Read More: iPhone 6 rumours
Via: Reuters
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